Carotid-cavernous fistula following percutaneous retrogasserian procedures. Report of two cases.
Carotid arterial puncture during percutaneous retrogasserian procedures is a common but usually harmless complication. Strokes, resulting presumably from carotid artery thrombosis, have been reported previously following percutaneous retrogasserian coagulation. The authors report two cases of carotid-cavernous fistula, one following percutaneous radiofrequency rhizotomy and the other after percutaneous retrogasserian block. The latter patient had an anomaully by intracavernous injection of isobutyl-2 cyanoacrylate, using intra-arterial balloon flotation catheters. Carotid-cavernous fistula is a potentially serious complication of such procedures, and may be more common than realized since small fistulas may close spontaneously.
D001164:Arteriovenous Fistula / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D005724:Ganglia; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve