Experience of successful rescue from 5 cases of internal carotid artery injury during transnasal endoscopic skull base surgery

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the cause and urgent management of internal carotid artery injury during transnasal endoscopic skull base surgery. Methods: Five cases of internal carotid artery injury encountered during transnasal endoscopic skull base surgery in Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science of Technology of China, Anhui Provincial Hospital from December 2010 to July 2017 were analysed retrospectively. There were 2 cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma, 1 case of salivary gland-type adenocarcinoma, 1 case of petrous apex cholesterol granulomas and 1 case of squamous carcinoma. The cause of internal carotid artery injury and subsequent treatment were analysed, in order to prevent internal carotid artery injury during transnasal endoscopic surgery. Results: Intraoperatively, all these 5 cases were packed with vaseline strip successfully. Two cases underwent subsequent intravascular covered stent graft implantation; 1 case underwent replacement of packing with muscle fascia graft; 1 case was packed with vaseline strip in nasal and nasopharyngeal cavity; 1 case accepted ligation of common carotid artery after failure of nasal packing. Four cases were successfully treated without craniocerebral or ocular complications. Otherwise, 1 case demonstrated with extremity paralysis after ligation. Follow up ranged from 6 to 84 months, no patient died. Conclusion: The injury of internal carotid artery is related with improper operative procedures and anatomic localization, which should be treated properly with emergent hemostasis, and an experienced multidisciplinary team to repair vascular damage is very important.