Endoscopic Repair of Internal Carotid Artery Injury with a Lateral Tongue Muscle Patch Graft: Novel Technique and Literature Review

Abstract

Objectives: Iatrogenic injury to the internal carotid artery (ICA) is one of the most catastrophic complications of endoscopic sinus and skull base surgery. Previous research has shown that packing with a crushed muscle graft at the injury site can be an effective management technique to control bleeding and prevent the need for ICA sacrifice. Here we describe a novel and readily available repair donor site – an autologous lateral tongue muscle patch. Design: Three representative cases of a successful repair of ICA injuries using a lateral tongue muscle patch. The graft measured approximately 2 x 3 cm and was taken from the lateral intrinsic tongue musculature. We describe the harvest of the graft, its advantages, and the details of operative repair. Results: For the first case, an expanding parasellar ICA pseudoaneurysm was managed with a tongue muscle patch and nasal packing. In the second case, a cavernous ICA injury was sustained during craniopharyngioma resection. Case three involved an ICA injury during endonasal debridement of invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (IFS). Postoperative angiograms and serial CTAs showed complete resolution of the pseudoaneurysm, and the patients continue to do well 1 year after repair. Conclusions: Lateral tongue muscle graft is an effective and efficient method to manage ICA injuries during endoscopic endonasal surgery. Advantages include the speed of harvest, donor site being readily accessible in the surgical field, and low donor site morbidity. It should be added to the repertoire of possible donor sites for addressing catastrophic sinonasal bleeding.