Interventional therapy for a variant central retinal artery occlusion: A case report

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Interventional Radiology
• Vascular Medicine

Background:

• Central Retinal Artery Occlusion (CRAO) is a critical condition causing sudden vision loss.
• Variant anatomy of the ophthalmic artery can complicate treatment strategies for CRAO.
• Interventional thrombolysis offers a potential treatment pathway for CRAO.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize the clinical experience of interventional thrombolysis for a unique case of CRAO.
• To highlight the successful treatment of CRAO in a patient with variant middle meningeal artery supply.
• To evaluate the efficacy of microcatheter-guided thrombolysis in a specific CRAO variant.

Main Methods:

• A single case of CRAO with unusual vascular anatomy was identified.
• Microcatheter super-selective thrombolysis of the middle meningeal artery was performed.
• Urokinase was administered via microcatheter to dissolve the clot.

Main Results:

• The patient presented with acute, severe vision decline in the left eye.
• The central retinal artery's blood supply originated from a branch of the middle meningeal artery.
• Successful thrombolysis led to significant visual recovery.

Conclusions:

• Transcatheter super-selective thrombolysis of the ophthalmic artery is a viable treatment for CRAO.
• Experience with variant ophthalmic artery anatomy is crucial for improving CRAO patient outcomes.
• This case demonstrates the potential of targeted thrombolysis in complex CRAO cases.