Carotid artery fistula: a case study and review

• Main Authors: Ganapathiraju I, Summerfield DT, Summerfield MM
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Arizona Thoracic Society 2017-07-01
• Series: Southwest Journal of Pulmonary and Critical Care
• Subjects: carotid; cavernous; sinus; fistula; classification; exophthalmos; CT scan; angiogram; treatment; trauma
• Online Access: http://www.swjpcc.com/critical-care/2017/7/11/carotid-cavernous-fistula-a-case-study-and-review.html

Carotid cavernous fistulas are rare complications of craniofacial trauma, resulting in abnormal connections between the arterial and venous systems of the cranium. The diagnosis of carotid cavernous fistulas and other injuries as a result of trauma can be confounded by the traumatized patient’s inability to communicate their symptoms to their physician. The following case study demonstrates the importance of a thorough physical exam in caring for such patients and serves to remind physicians to have a low threshold for consultation when managing numerous injuries following trauma.