What are the main clinical signs of direct carotid cavernous fistula?

What are the main clinical signs of direct carotid cavernous fistula?

Carotid Cavernous Fistula Symptoms

  • Red eyes.
  • Bulging eye.
  • Blood flow sounds around your eye.
  • Pulsing eyeball.
  • Eye pain.
  • Weak or paralyzed eye muscle.
  • Drooping eyelid‌

What is a fistula in the carotid artery?

Carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF) is an abnormal connection between the carotid artery and/or its branches and a large vein called the cavernous sinus. The cavernous sinus is located behind the eye and receives blood from brain, orbit, and pituitary gland.

How is carotid cavernous fistula treated?

Treating a carotid cavernous fistula with embolization involves placing small platinum coils where the abnormal connection is. This separates the blood flow of the carotid arteries from that of the veins. As a result, the blood can drain properly from the eyes. Coil embolization is done in an angiography suite.

What is indirect carotid cavernous fistula?

Indirect carotid-cavernous fistulas are connections between the cavernous sinus and meningeal branches of the external carotid, internal carotid or a combination of both. Indirect carotid-cavernous fistulas most commonly occur spontaneously.

How is a carotid cavernous fistula diagnosed?

Carotid cavernous fistulas can be diagnosed by imaging studies such as: CT scan. MRI scan. Angiogram.

How serious is carotid cavernous fistula?

Long-Term Outlook of Carotid-Cavernous Sinus Fistula Some people who have a direct CCF with severe symptoms won’t recover completely. However, most people return to health within six months. Direct CCFs do not usually open again after surgery. However, indirect CCFs sometimes recur.

Is carotid cavernous fistula serious?

Indirect CCFs tend to cause fewer, less serious symptoms. This is because of their relatively low rate of blood flow. Direct CCFs usually require more urgent attention.

Is carotid-cavernous fistula an emergency?

Introduction. A carotid-cavernous sinus fistula (CCF) is a rare condition well known in the neurosurgical field, but not well published in emergency medicine literature. Whether post-traumatic or spontaneous in nature, the symptoms related to CCFs are insidious and potentially severe.

What is left carotid-cavernous fistula?

A carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF) is the result of an abnormal vascular connection between the internal carotid artery (ICA) or external carotid artery (ECA) and the venous channels of the cavernous sinus. CCFs are classified based on the arterial system involved, hemodynamics, and etiology.

How serious is carotid-cavernous fistula?

Is carotid cavernous fistula an emergency?