Usefulness of External Carotid Artery Angiogram with Manual Carotid Compression in Ophthalmic Artery Aneurysm

OBJECTIVE: Identifying collaterals from external carotid artery (ECA) is necessary before treatment of ophthalmic artery (OphA) aneurysm. We present a manual carotid compression test to verify collaterals in ophthalmic artery aneurysms, and evaluate its usefulness.MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 2013 to December 2017, endovascular coiling was performed 19 consecutive patients with 20 OphA aneurysms. We performed manual carotid compression test for patients who had aneurysms incorporating entry of OphA. Clinical and angiographic outcomes were investigated.RESULTS: Of 13 cases underwent manual carotid compression test, 12 cases were confirmed collateral flow from ECA to OphA. During the coil embolization, we tried to maintain the original OphA flow even if it has a collateral anastomosis. Among them, OphA occlusion occurred in one patient during coiling. Recurrence of aneurysm was occurred in a ruptured case and additional embolization was required.CONCLUSIONS: The manual carotid compression test is useful method to identify the collaterals from ECA in patients with OphA aneurysm. This test can be used as a screening test for confirming collateral flow in OphA aneurysms or as an alternative for patients who are difficult to perform BTO.

Ophthalmic Artery Aneurysm: Potential Culprit of Central Retinal Artery Occlusion

Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is one of the most devastating ophthalmic emergencies, causing acute painless visual loss in the affected eye. We describe the first case of acute non-arteritic CRAO associated with peripheral ophthalmic artery aneurysm and its clinical course after intra-arterial thrombolysis therapy. This case suggests that ophthalmic artery aneurysm can be the cause of CRAO and should be included in the differential diagnosis of CRAO.

Ruptured Aneurysm of the Ophthalmic Artery

Aneurysms arising from the ophthalmic artery itself are very rare compared with aneurysms originating from the bifurcation of the ophthalmic artery and carotid artery. There was only one reported case of a ruptured aneurysm of the ophthalmic artery itself. We discuss clinical significance of an aneurysm at this site, as well as the role of three dimentional image of multislice computed tomography angiogram(3D-image of MCTA) in determining the cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH).

Extradural-Intradural Approach to Carotid-Ophthalmic Artery Aneurysm

The authors report seven cases of carotid-ophthalmic artery aneurysms who were surgically treated using the combined extradural-intradural or intradural approach from March, 1991, to December, 1993. Carotid-ophthalmic artery aneurysms are of considerably surgical interest because some of these were considered to have technical difficulties of clipping and disastrous surgical results. Removal of the anterior clinoid process and unroofing of the optic canal are the key points to exposure the operative field adequately. On the basis of these experiences, authors concluded that this approach is very useful, because of adequate surgical field and better mobilization of the internal carotid artery and optic nerve for direct clipping of carotid-ophthalmic artery aneurysm and basilar tip aneurysm.