Clinical Analysis of Traumatic Carotid-Cavernous Fistula

Traumatic carotid-cavernous fistula(CCF) is a rare complication of moderate to severe head injury. A series of 15 traumatic carotid-cavernous fistulas has been analyzed and 13 cases have been treated with 3 different methods:direct obliteration through pterional approach(5 cases), ligation of internal, common and external carotid artery in the neck(2 cases), occlusion of CCF with detachable balloon technique(6 cases). The remaining 2 cases were treated by conservative procedures. There were 12 cases(80%) with skull fractures, the majority of which(10 cases) had frontal vault and basal skull fractures. The results of each method were as follows:1) Among the 5 direct obliteration procedure groups, we got satisfactory results in only 2 cases(40%), and the other 2 cases needed additional instantaneous carotid trapping procedures, which corrected the fistula. Internal carotid artery patency was also preserved in 2 cases(40%). 2) Among the 2 cases of carotid trapping group, only 1 case(50%) improved to good. 3) Amo ng the detachable balloon group, 5 cases(83.3%) recovered to good or corrected. Carotid patency was preserved in 4 cases(67.7%). As a result, initial treatment modality of CCF should be detachable balloon technique because of good preservation of carotid patency, better result, simplicity, and safety compared with other operative methods.

Clinical Analysis of Traumatic Carotid-Cavernous Fistula

Traumatic carotid-cavernous fistula(CCF) is a rare complication of moderate to severe head injury. A series of 15 traumatic carotid-cavernous fistulas has been analyzed and 13 cases have been treated with 3 different methods:direct obliteration through pterional approach(5 cases), ligation of internal, common and external carotid artery in the neck(2 cases), occlusion of CCF with detachable balloon technique(6 cases). The remaining 2 cases were treated by conservative procedures. There were 12 cases(80%) with skull fractures, the majority of which(10 cases) had frontal vault and basal skull fractures. The results of each method were as follows:1) Among the 5 direct obliteration procedure groups, we got satisfactory results in only 2 cases(40%), and the other 2 cases needed additional instantaneous carotid trapping procedures, which corrected the fistula. Internal carotid artery patency was also preserved in 2 cases(40%). 2) Among the 2 cases of carotid trapping group, only 1 case(50%) improved to good. 3) Amo ng the detachable balloon group, 5 cases(83.3%) recovered to good or corrected. Carotid patency was preserved in 4 cases(67.7%). As a result, initial treatment modality of CCF should be detachable balloon technique because of good preservation of carotid patency, better result, simplicity, and safety compared with other operative methods.