Detachable latex balloon occlusion of an internal carotid artery with an aberrant branch in a horse with guttural pouch (auditory tube diverticulum) mycosis.

An aberrant branch of the internal carotid artery was detected by angiography in a horse with guttural pouch (auditory tube diverticulum) mycosis after the distal portion of the artery had been occluded by use of a detachable latex balloon. A second balloon was placed to eliminate retrograde hemorrhage from the aberrant branch. The horse recovered and returned to its previous activity. Vascular anomalies of the internal carotid artery my be more common than expected, and have resulted in fatal complications during and after surgical treatment in guttural pouch mycosis. Intraoperative identification of vascular anomalies by use of angiography may avoid these fatal complications.