Return of vision after transarterial coiling of a carotid cavernous sinus fistula: case report.
BACKGROUND
Carotid cavernous sinus fistulae are abnormal communications between the carotid circulation and cavernous sinus that may arise spontaneously or develop after craniocerebral trauma. They may present with a constellation of signs and symptoms characteristic of raised cavernous sinus pressure, including orbital or retro-orbital pain, pulsatile proptosis, chemosis, ocular or cranial bruit, deterioration of visual acuity, or ophthalmoplegia. Visual loss is likely the result of multiple insults to the visual system, including reversal of venous drainage from the fistula, arterial flow into the superior ophthalmic vein, increased intraocular venous pressure, venous stasis retinopathy, and eventually ischemic optic neuropathy [Brodsky MC, Hoyt WF, Halbach VV, et al. Recovery from total monocular blindness after balloon embolization of carotid-cavernous fistula. Am J Ophthalmol 1987;104:86-87; Sanders MD, Hoyt WF. Hypoxic ocular sequelae of carotid-cavernous fistulae: study of the causes of visual failure before and after neurosurgical treatment in a series of 25 cases. Br J Ophthalmol 1969;53:82-97].


METHODS
With few exceptions, the literature is replete with evidence of persistent blindness despite successful treatment of the CCF [Albuquerque FC, Heinz GW, McDougall CG. Reversal of blindness after transvenous embolization of a carotid-cavernous fistula: case report. Neurosurgery 2003;52:233-237; Brodsky MC, Hoyt WF, Halbach VV, et al. Recovery from total monocular blindness after balloon embolization of carotid-cavernous fistula. Am J Ophthalmol 1987;104:86-87; Weinstein JM, Rufenacht DA, Partington CR, et al. Delayed visual loss due to trauma of the internal carotid artery. Arch Neurol. 1991;48:490-497]. Here, we report a patient who experienced recovery of vision after endovascular obliteration of the offending CCF.


CONCLUSIONS
To our knowledge, this is the second reported case of recovery of visual function in a patient presenting with loss of light perception after treatment of a direct CCF.
Das
Sunit
S
Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
Bendok
Bernard R
BR
Novakovic
Roberta L
RL
Parkinson
Richard J
RJ
Rosengart
Axel J
AJ
Macdonald
R Loch
RL
Frank
Jeffrey I
JI
D001766:Blindness / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D020216:Carotid-Cavernous Sinus Fistula / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002426:Cavernous Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000295:instrumentation; D005123:Eye / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D009880:Ophthalmic Artery / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012169:Retinal Vein / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods