title: Effective coil embolization of intracavernous carotid artery pseudoaneurysm with parental artery preservation following severe head trauma in a pediatric patient.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intracranial traumatic pseudoaneurysms are rare in children. If left untreated, mortality rate can be as high as 50% due to delayed rupture and disastrous bleeding. Endovascular embolization is considered the preferred treatment option because of its minimal invasiveness and negligible mortality. However, exclusion of the pseudoaneurysm with preservation of the parental vessel is not always possible. In comparison with peripheral aneurysms, intracavernous internal carotid artery lesions are technically more challenging with both open surgery and endovascular techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the case of a successful two-stage coil embolization of a traumatic intracavernous carotid artery pseudoaneurysm with preservation of parental vessel in a 6-year-old boy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endovascular embolization with parental vessel preservation should be considered the first treatment option for traumatic intracavernous internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysms in children. Although treatment of pseudoaneurysms in this location may be technically difficult, it is feasible in experienced hands.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Clinico San Carlos, Profesor Martin Lagos SN, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Kinda
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Altali
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arruza
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: López-Ibor
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aleo
mesh_terms: D020212:Carotid Artery Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D002648:Child; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male