title: Unusual internal carotid artery branching that prevented arterial occlusion with a balloon-tipped catheter in a horse.
abstract: A mare with hemorrhage caused by guttural pouch mycosis was treated by insertion of a balloon-tipped catheter into the left internal carotid artery. During recovery from general anesthesia, the mare had profuse epistaxis, and was anesthetized again to determine the site of hemorrhage. The affected guttural pouch was opened to confirm that hemorrhage was from the left internal carotid artery. The mare was euthanatized, and, at necropsy, the balloon catheter was found in an aberrant branch that arose from the internal carotid artery and joined the basilar artery. The mycotic plaque was on the left internal carotid artery, distal to the origin of the aberrant branch, so that the balloon did not obstruct retrograde flow through the infected segment. Additional dissection of the internal carotid artery before insertion of a balloon catheter is recommended to identify any aberrant branches. Ligation of aberrant branches at their bifurcation with the internal carotid artery is recommended to prevent both inadvertent catheterization and retrograde flow from the cerebral arterial circle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Staller
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Maxson
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Sweeney
mesh_terms: D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000002:abnormalities*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000662:veterinary*; D004844:Epistaxis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006736:Horses; D009181:Mycoses / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary; D017211:Treatment Failure