Outpatient management of superficial temporal artery aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of surgical treatment of the superficial temporal artery aneurysms on an outpatient basis. METHODS: The records of 5 patients seen at our institution from 1983 to 1997 were reviewed retrospectively. Preoperative diagnosis was made by patient s history and physical examination, with no further evaluation. RESULTS: Outpatient ligation and excision of four aneurysms of distal branches of the superficial temporal artery (3 frontal, 1 parietal) and one involving its proximal portion was performed under local anesthesia. Supplementation with minimal intravenous sedation facilitated the treatment in an uncooperative child and in the patient affected with proximal STA aneurysm. All procedures were uneventful. Patients were discharged a few hours after surgical treatment. No patient required hospitalization following discharge. No recurrence was noted during follow-up periods of 2 to 16 years. CONCLUSIONS: Outpatient diagnosis and excision of aneurysm of the superficial temporal artery can be performed safely. Significant advantages of this pathway include no hospital admission and cost reduction.