Usefulness of intravascular ultrasonography monitoring of coil embolization for traumatic direct carotid-cavernous fistula - Case report

Abstract

A 61-year-old woman was admitted for head injury after a traffic accident. Two months later, she developed abducens nerve palsy, chemosis, and pulsatile tinnitus. Right internal carotid angiography demonstrated a high flow direct carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF) at the C5 portion with reflux into the superficial and deep sylvian veins, superior ophthalmic vein, superior petrosal sinus, and inferior petrosal sinus. Intravascular ultrasonography (IVUS) revealed a large fistula at the C5 portion of the internal carotid artery (ICA). Coil embolization via transarterial and transvenous approaches under IVUS monitoring was performed. During the procedure, IVUS accurately detected protrusion of a coil into the parent ICA, and the parent artery could be preserved. IVUS monitoring is useful for embolization of direct CCF with coils.