title: A novel technique for identifying the fistulous point in a direct carotid-cavernous fistula.
abstract: The fistulous point in a direct carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF) can often be difficult to identify because of high-flow shunting. A novel technique that is useful for identifying the fistulous point is reported. A 71-year-old woman underwent endovascular therapy for a left direct CCF that presented with sudden diplopia and tinnitus. To identify the fistulous point, vertebral angiography with manual compression of the left carotid artery was attempted, as was slow injection of a contrast agent from a balloon guiding catheter, closing off the left internal carotid artery; however, the shunt flow was very rapid, and identification was not possible. Therefore, three-dimensional digital subtraction angiography of the vertebral artery was performed while also performing manual aspiration from the balloon guiding catheter, closing off the left internal carotid artery. This reduced early visualization of the cavernous sinus and enabled an aneurysm in the cavernous sinus to be clearly visualized. Embolization was performed transarterially and transvenously, and the shunt flow disappeared completely. Vertebral angiography combined with manual aspiration from a balloon guiding catheter closing off the internal carotid artery is useful for identifying the fistulous point in a direct CCF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Kinki University School of Medicine, 377-2 Ohno-Higashi, Osaka-Sayama, Osaka 589-8511, Japan. Electronic address: kiyoshi-tsuji@med.kindai.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsuji
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Kinki University School of Medicine, 377-2 Ohno-Higashi, Osaka-Sayama, Osaka 589-8511, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuhiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Kinki University School of Medicine, 377-2 Ohno-Higashi, Osaka-Sayama, Osaka 589-8511, Japan.
authors.forename: Norihito
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fukawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Kinki University School of Medicine, 377-2 Ohno-Higashi, Osaka-Sayama, Osaka 589-8511, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagatsuka
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Kinki University School of Medicine, 377-2 Ohno-Higashi, Osaka-Sayama, Osaka 589-8511, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Kinki University School of Medicine, 377-2 Ohno-Higashi, Osaka-Sayama, Osaka 589-8511, Japan.
authors.forename: Amami
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kato
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction / Q000379:methods*; D020216:Carotid-Cavernous Sinus Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002533:Cerebral Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D059906:Neuroimaging / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Balloon guiding catheter; Direct carotid-cavernous fistula; Fistulous point; Manual aspiration; Three-dimensional digital subtraction angiography