Endovascular treatment of a traumatic distal internal carotid pseudoaneurysm

Stenting for Traumatic Pseudoaneurysms of the Cervical Internal Carotid Artery: Case Report and Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

The optimal stenting approach for traumatic pseudoaneurysms (PSA) of the extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) remains underinvestigated. We present a case of a traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the extracranial ICA managed with stenting and review of prior published similar cases.

METHODS

The systematic review followed PRISMA-S guidelines and included studies that investigated traumatic pseudoaneurysms of the extracranial ICA managed by stent placement. Statistical analysis assessed the association between the type of injury and stent type, dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) duration, and clinical presentation, and the association between stent type and DAPT duration.

RESULTS

Our search yielded 82 publications with 135 patients with extracranial ICA PSA treated with stenting. The odds of neck hematoma presentation was 12.2 times greater for patients with penetrating rather than blunt injuries (P = 0.000002). Covered stents had 2.02 times higher odds of use for penetrating rather than blunt injuries compared to bare metal stents. (P = 0.0029). Shorter duration DAPT was seen with bare metal stents having 1.25 higher odds of DAPT duration less than one month compared to covered (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In traumatic extracranial ICA pseudoaneurysms, covered stents are used more commonly for penetrating injuries compared to blunt injuries. Penetrating injuries are more strongly associated with the presentation of a hematoma compared to blunt injuries. Stent type may influence the recommended DAPT duration. Surgeons should consider these findings when selecting stent type and DAPT duration with patients presenting with traumatic extracranial ICA pseudoaneurysm.

Endovascular treatment of blunt injury of the extracranial internal carotid artery: the prospect and dilemma

The extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) refers to the anatomic location that reaches from the common carotid artery proximally to the skull base distally. The extracranial ICA belongs to the C1 segment of the Bouthillier classification and is at considerable risk for injury. Currently, the understanding of endovascular treatment (EVT) for blunt injury of the extracranial ICA is limited, and a comprehensive review is therefore important. In this review, we found that extracranial ICA blunt injury should be identified in patients presenting after blunt trauma, including classical dissection, pseudoaneurysm, and stenosis/occlusion. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) is the first-line method for screening for extracranial ICA blunt injury, although digital subtraction angiography (DSA) remains the "gold standard" in imaging. Antithrombotic treatment is effective for stroke prevention. However, routine EVT in the form of stenting should be reserved for patients with prolonged neurological symptoms from arterial stenosis or considerably enlarged pseudoaneurysm. Endovascular repair is now emerging as a favored therapeutic option given its demonstrated safety and positive clinical and radiographic outcomes.