title: Medical management in the endovascular treatment of carotid-cavernous aneurysms.
abstract: Carotid-cavernous aneurysms account for between 1.9% and 9.0% of intracranial aneurysms. Entirely intercavernous aneurysms are believed to have a relatively benign course, with cranial nerve findings or headache being the usual initial symptomatology; however, subarachnoid hemorrhage or carotid-cavernous fistula formation can result from rupture. Over the past 15 years endovascular parent artery occlusion has essentially replaced surgical carotid occlusion as the treatment of choice. The authors describe a series of 39 consecutive patients at the University of Virginia Health Sciences Center who underwent endovascular treatment of a carotid-cavernous aneurysm. Aggressive invasive hemodynamic monitoring and maintenance of a state of normo- to mild hypervolemia in the asymptomatic patient was used throughout the periprocedural period. Rapid institution of hypervolemic-hypertensive therapy can reverse early neurological deficits related to hypoperfusion in these patients. Only one individual managed with this protocol developed neurological deficits not reversible with hypertensive-hypervolemic therapy. Heparin therapy was administered for 48 hours after occlusion, with patients receiving subsequent aspirin therapy for 6 months to combat distal embolism secondary to thrombosis. Long-term complications were not seen in patients receiving aneurysm trapping; however, two individuals with proximal carotid occlusion developed late optic neuropathy and one had recurrent transient ischemic attacks that ceased with supraclinoidal carotid clipping.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville, USA.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Polin
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Shaffrey
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Braden
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Dion
authors.forename: N F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Kassell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D002426:Cavernous Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged