Surgical Treatment of Extracranial Internal Carotid Artery Pseudoaneurysm in an Infant Due to Falling from Height: An Unusual Case

Abstract

Pseudoaneurysms of the internal carotid artery (ICA) caused by non-penetrating trauma are extremely rare. Patients with ICA pseudoaneurysms may present with cerebral ischemia, cervical masses, neck swelling, hematoma, rupture, pain, or cranial nerve dysfunction. We present a case of a left ICA pseudoaneurysm that developed in a 7-month-old infant because of a fall from height. The patient developed left-sided neck swelling that caused severe airway obstruction and respiratory arrest. The patient was urgently intubated and underwent emergency surgery under general anesthesia to repair the defect in the left ICA. Primary repair was performed to treat the pseudoaneurysms. The pseudoaneurysm sac was not removed because it was complicated and had extended into the respiratory tract. The patient was extubated on the 2nd day and discharged on the 7th day without complications. Follow-up of the patient after two weeks was unremarkable. Extracranial ICA pseudoaneurysms should be identified in patients presenting with blunt trauma. Emergency surgery should be considered for patients with progressive pseudoaneurysms.

Keywords:

• carotid artery
• pseudoaneurysm
• trauma
• extracranial internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysm
• infancy

Abbreviations

ICA, Internal carotid artery; US, Ultrasound; CT, Computed tomography; CTA, Computed tomography angiography.

Data Sharing Statement

All data relevant to this study have been included in this published article. Further datasets analyzed in the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Consent for Publication

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and accompanying images. A copy of the written consent form is available for review by the editor of the journal.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no competing interests in this work.

Additional information

Funding

The authors declare that they received no funding for this study.