[Successful treatment using detachable coils for traumatic carotid cavernous fistula as a complication of transsphenoidal surgery for a pituitary adenoma: a case report].

Abstract

We report a case of a patient with traumatic carotid cavernous fistula (CCF) caused by transnasal-transsphenoidal surgery, who was successfully treated using detachable coils. A 47-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of severe headache. He was confirmed to have a nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma with presellar-type sphenoid sinus. Cerebral angiography initially disclosed no vascular lesions. A transnasal-transsphenoidal adenomectomy was performed. When the anterior wall of the sphenoid sinus was dissected with a chisel, the chisel deeply stuck into the posterolateral part of the sinus. Profuse arterial bleeding was observed through the sphenoid sinus. The bleeding was stopped easily by compression and packing with bone wax. The operation was continued, the sellar floor was opened widely and the tumor was removed subtotally. The medial wall of the cavernous sinus was intact. Histological examination revealed a pituitary adenoma. Immediately after surgery, the patient noticed a bruit. He developed chemosis and abducent palsy on the right side. Cerebral angiography displayed a high-flow CCF, which was attributed to the carotid artery injury caused by the transnasal-transsphenoidal surgery. The CCF disappeared after two-staged embolization using detachable coils, 1st transvenous and 2nd transarterial. Ten months later, cerebral angiography showed persistent occlusion of the fistula, and the patient experienced no tumor recurrence. It is suggested that drilling is a safer procedure than using a chisel for dissection of a sphenoid sinus with incomplete pneumatization. Endovascular treatment using detachable coils proved useful to manage the CCF, an unusual complication of transsphenoidal surgery.

• Authors: N Kobayashi, T Abe, H Furuya, K Dohi, M Shimazu, K Sasaki, H Izumiyama, K Matsumoto, S Ohki, S Nemoto
• Journal: No shinkei geka. Neurological surgery (No Shinkei Geka) Vol. 28 Issue 2 Pg. 167-71 (Feb 2000) ISSN: 0301-2603 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 10666737 (Publication Type: Case Reports, English Abstract, Journal Article)

Topics

• Adenoma (surgery)
• Carotid Artery Injuries (complications)
• Carotid-Cavernous Sinus Fistula (etiology, therapy)
• Embolization, Therapeutic
• Humans
• Hypophysectomy (adverse effects)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pituitary Neoplasms (surgery)
• Postoperative Complications (etiology, therapy)