Endovascular Treatment of a Traumatic Carotid-Jugular Fistula by Using Stent-Graft

Abstract

Traumatic arteriovenous fistulas following carotid artery injuries are rare. Treatment of carotid artery-to-jugular vein fistula requires direct closure of the fistula or occlusion of the carotid artery above and below the level of the fistula, by a surgical or endovascular approach. A 32-year-old man presented with right-sided pulsatile neck swelling and left-sided limb weakness 2 days following a stab wound. Neck computed tomography demonstrated a vascular mass protruding the anterior neck. Digital subtraction arteriography demonstrated a bilobular large internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysm just distal to its bifurcation. There was simultaneous opacification of a dilated left internal jugular vein indicating a high-flow internal carotid-internal jugular fistula. A balloon-expandable stent-graft was delivered and successfully positioned across the fistula. The arteriovenous fistula and pseudoaneurysm were completely disappeared and the right internal carotid artery was preserved well. The stent-graft is a promising technology to obliterate the fistula and preserve the parent artery with relative safety.