Repair of carotid artery perforations during transsphenoidal surgery
1ANI Department of Neurosurgery, Allegheny General Hospital and The Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University, Pittsburgh, USA.
Background:
Hemorrhage from carotid artery injury during transsphenoidal surgery is an unusual, but potentially fatal complication.
Methods:
Among six patients experiencing laceration or perforation of the carotid artery, we treated four with a new technique using Teflon mesh and methyl methacrylate to form an external, artificial wall over the laceration and the carotid artery.
Results:
In all four cases, hemorrhage was successfully controlled without neurologic deficit to the patient or complications frequently associated with the standard technique of nasal and sphenoid sinus packing removal.
Conclusions:
Our new technique may be superior to packing alone, as well as potentially life-saving to the patient.
