title: Endovascular management of internal carotid artery injuries secondary to endonasal surgery: case series and review of the literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE Internal carotid artery (ICA) injury is a rare but severe complication of endonasal surgery. The authors describe their endovascular experience managing ICA injuries after transsphenoidal surgery; they review and summarize the current literature regarding endovascular techniques; and they propose a treatment algorithm based on the available evidence. METHODS A retrospective review of 576 transsphenoidal pituitary adenoma resections was performed. Cases of ICA injury occurring at our institution and transfers from other hospitals were evaluated. Endovascular treatments for ICA injury reported in the literature were also reviewed and summarized. RESULTS Seven cases were identified from the institutional cohort (mean age 46.3 years, mean follow-up 43.4 months [1-107 months]) that received endovascular treatment for ICA injury. Five injuries occurred at our institution (5 [0.9%] of 576), and 2 injuries occurred at outside hospitals. Three patients underwent ICA sacrifice by coil placement, 2 underwent lesion embolization (coil or stent-assisted coil placement), and 2 underwent endoluminal reconstruction (both with flow diversion devices). Review of the literature identified 98 cases of ICA injury treated with endovascular methods. Of the 105 total cases, 46 patients underwent ICA sacrifice, 28 underwent lesion embolization, and 31 underwent endoluminal reconstruction. Sacrifice of the ICA proved a durable solution in all cases; however, the rate of persistent neurological complications was relatively high (10 [21.7%] of 46). Lesion embolization was primarily performed by coil embolization without stenting (16 cases) and stent-assisted coiling (9 cases). Both techniques had a relatively high rate of at least some technical complication (6 [37.5%] of 16 and 5 [55.6%] of 9, respectively) and major technical complications (i.e., injury, new neurological deficit, or ICA sacrifice) (5 [31.3%] of 16 and 2 [22.2%] of 9, respectively). Endoluminal reconstruction was performed by covered stent (24 cases) and flow diverter (5 cases) placement. Covered stents showed a reasonably high rate of technical complications (10 [41.7%] of 24); however, 8 of these problems were resolved, leaving a small percentage with major technical complications (2 [8.3%] of 24). Flow diverter placement was also well tolerated, with only 1 minor technical complication. CONCLUSIONS Endovascular treatments including vessel sacrifice, coil embolization (with or without stent assistance), and endoluminal reconstruction offer a tailored approach to ICA injury management after endonasal surgery. Vessel sacrifice remains the definitive treatment for acute, uncontrolled bleeding; however, vessel preservation techniques should be considered carefully in select patients. Multiple factors including vascular anatomy, injury characteristics, and risk of dual antiplatelet therapy should guide best treatment, but more study is needed (particularly with flow diverters) to refine this decision-making process. Ideally, all endovascular treatment options should be available at institutions performing endonasal surgery.
authors.affiliation: Departments of 1 Neurosurgery.
authors.forename: Peter T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Sylvester
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuroradiology, Mallinckrodt Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Moran
authors.affiliation: Departments of 1 Neurosurgery.|Division of Neuroradiology, Mallinckrodt Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
authors.forename: Colin P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Derdeyn
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuroradiology, Mallinckrodt Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
authors.forename: DeWitte T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Cross
authors.affiliation: Departments of 1 Neurosurgery.
authors.forename: Ralph G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Dacey
authors.affiliation: Departments of 1 Neurosurgery.
authors.forename: Gregory J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Zipfel
authors.affiliation: Departments of 1 Neurosurgery.
authors.forename: Albert H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology, and.
authors.forename: Ravi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Uppaluri
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology, and.
authors.forename: Bruce H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Haughey
authors.affiliation: Anesthesia, and.
authors.forename: Rene
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tempelhoff
authors.affiliation: Departments of 1 Neurosurgery.
authors.forename: Keith M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Rich
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology, and.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology, and.
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Chole
authors.affiliation: Departments of 1 Neurosurgery.
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Chicoine
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020212:Carotid Artery Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000601:surgery*; D057510:Endovascular Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013100:Sphenoid Bone
keywords: ACoA = anterior communicating artery; BTO = balloon test occlusion; CCF = carotid-cavernous fistula; EC-IC = extracranial-intracranial; EVD = external ventricular drain; ICA = internal carotid artery; PCoA = posterior communicating artery; PED = Pipeline Embolization Device; decision making; endonasal surgery; endovascular procedures; internal carotid artery; pituitary surgery; treatment outcomes