Journal List > J Rhinol > v.22(2) > 1044332

Kim, Yang, Shin, and Nam: A Case of the Carotid-Cavernous Fistula Due to the Internal Carotid Artery Injury During Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

Abstract

Rupture of the internal carotid artery (ICA) during endoscopic sinus surgery is a rare complication. However, it can potentially result in death within minutes. In the event of a traumatic injury to the ICA during sphenoid sinus exploration, it is very difficult to control the bleeding. We present a case of carotid-cavernous fistula after an accidentally-developed ICA bleed during endoscopic sphenoidotomy. The patient was successfully treated with endovascular embolization techniques that included detachable microcoils.

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Fig. 1.
(A) Coronal CT scan of the paranasal sinues shows the right sphenoid sinus is less developed (arrow) than the left sphenoid sinus. (B) Coronal CT scan is more posterior section than. The right internal carotid artery (arrow head) is deviated to the medial side due to the less developed right spenoid sinus.
jr-22-116f1.tif
Fig. 2.
The right internal carotid angiography (lateral view) shows irregular narrowing of the supraclinoid segment of the right ICA (arrow) due to probably vasospasm after ICA injury. However, active bleeding is not observed. ICA: internal carotid artery.
jr-22-116f2.tif
Fig. 3.
Transfemoral carotid angiography (lateral view) shows the early filling of cavernous sinus (arrow) and the venous drainage into the superior ophthalmic vein (arrow head) due to ca-rotid-cavernous fistula.
jr-22-116f3.tif
Fig. 4.
Right internal carotid 3D angiography after endovascular coil embolization shows the coil placed in the carotid-cavern-ous fistula (arrow).
jr-22-116f4.tif
Fig. 5.
Post-endovascular coil embolization brain MRI. There are no evidence of hemorrhage and neurologic deficit in the brain parenchyma. A: Axial T1 weighted image. B: Axial T2 weighted image, there is an artifact in the right cavernous sinus due to endovascular coils (arrow).
jr-22-116f5.tif
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