Endovascular Treatment of a High-Flow Direct Traumatic Carotid Cavernous Fistula with a Two Year Follow-up

Clinical improvement in indirect carotid cavernous fistulas treated endovascularly: A patient based review

Patients with indirect carotid cavernous fistulas (CCF) were reviewed to emphasize the importance of diagnosing patients even with trivial findings and to raise awareness. Eighteen patients diagnosed as CCF were included. Neuro-ophthalmological findings before and after treatment, diagnostic investigations, treatment, clinical course was noted. Twelve patients were female (67%), 6 were males (33%) and the mean age at presentation was 54 years (range: 29-70 years). Conjunctival hyperemia was present in all patients. Seventeen (94%) patients had proptosis and diplopia, nine (50%) had orbital pain and/or headache, four (22%) had blurred vision, one (5.5%) had ptosis. On examination, 17 patients (94%) had restricted eye movements, four (22%) had low visual acuity and five patients had (28%) increased intraocular pressure (IOP). One patient had been diagnosed as myasthenia gravis and two as thyroid orbitopathy and had been on treatment accordingly before CCF was diagnosed. In two patients, bilateral findings were present despite unilateral CCF on angiography. Barrow Type B fistula was found in 7 (38%), Barrow Type D in 11 (62%) patients. In three bilateral CCF was detected. All were treated by endovascular intervention. Residual deficits at the sixth month control were, eye movement deficits in seven (39%), decrease in visual acuity in one (5.5%) and elevated IOP in one (5.5%) patient. Indirect CCF patients generally present with mild symptoms and the diagnosis may be overlooked. Mild progressive ophthalmoparesis with conjunctival hyperemia must be warning. Though rare bilateral CCF can be detected as well as unilateral CCF with bilateral findings.

Bilateral blunt cerebrovascular injury resulting in direct carotid-cavernous fistulae: A case report and review of the literature

Background

Bilateral blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI) has been documented in 32 patients in the English-language literature and bilateral carotid-cavernous fistulae (CCFs) have been reported in only 1 patient. Here, we present a case of severe, unexpected bilateral BCVI with bilateral direct CCF and review the literature of BCVI, particularly cases of bilateral injury.

Case Description

A 65-year-old woman with episodic bradycardia presented after a motor vehicle accident. On arrival, she had a Glasgow Coma Scale of 3T and progressive dilation of her right pupil. Computed tomography imaging showed a 1.8-cm right epidural hematoma (EDH) with 6 mm of right-to-left shift. No acute skull-base fracture or injury in the area of the carotid canal was noted. The patient was treated with 3% hypertonic saline and mannitol before being taken to the operating room for emergent decompression of the hematoma. Although the patient initially presented with an EDH, significant intraoperative hemorrhage was identified during surgical evacuation and later confirmed as bilateral direct CCFs during angiographic evaluation. Because of the patient's devastating injuries, life-extending measures were not continued and the patient died.

Conclusions

A review of the literature indicates that bilateral CCFs are rare, having been reported only once previously. As this case demonstrates, CCFs may occur in high-energy injuries and should be considered even if the patient does not meet traditional screening criteria.

Recurrence risk factors in detachable balloon embolization of traumatic direct carotid cavernous fistulas in 188 patients

PURPOSE

To investigate the effects of detachable balloons in embolizing traumatic carotid cavernous fistulas (TCCFs) and the risk factors for recurrence after balloon embolization.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

188 patients with TCCFs were enrolled, and clinical, treatment, and follow-up data were analyzed for possible risk factors for recurrence after embolization.

RESULTS

Among 188 patients, 182 (96.8%) had successful balloon embolization; 6 patients failed. One balloon was used in 94 cases and multiple (two or more) balloons were used in 62 patients. 26 patients had occlusion of the parent artery whereas the remainder had parent artery preservation. Periprocedural complications occurred in 3 patients (1.6%) including cerebral embolism in 1 and abducent nerve paralysis in the other 2. Immediately following embolization, headache appeared in 92 patients and was relieved after 3-5 days with medications. A total of 165 patients (87.8%) had follow-up (6 months to 16 years, mean 5 years). 23 (13.9%) patients with internal carotid artery preservation had recurrence 1-33 days (mean 11 days) after the first embolization and were retreated to complete occlusion. Factors affecting recurrence were multiple balloons and residual fistula (p<0.05). Logistic regression confirmed the independent factors affecting recurrence were multiple balloons (≥2 balloons, OR 7.80, 95% CI 2.28 to 26.73; p=0.001) and residual fistula immediately following embolization (OR 10.46, 95% CI 2.99 to 36.5; p=0.000).

CONCLUSION

The recurrence rate is high in the first month after embolization with detachable balloons, and multiple balloons and residual fistula are two independent factors affecting recurrence following balloon embolization.

Spontaneous resolution of ophthalmologic symptoms following bilateral traumatic carotid cavernous fistulae

A 38-year-old woman developed bilateral carotid cavernous fistulae (CCF) following a motor vehicle collision. Her initial ophthalmologic findings included periorbital edema, palsies of the left oculomotor and abducens nerves, and residual dilated pupils. She subsequently developed significant optic disc edema and retinal vascular dilation bilaterally. Patients with similar injuries typically require neurosurgical or vascular intervention. In this case, the patient's signs resolved spontaneously by 21 months after onset, leaving no residual ocular deficits.