Traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the cervical carotid artery

Abstract

A patient who sustained a gunshot wound to the neck and subsequent blunt trauma is presented. No angiogram was performed after the initial injury. Subsequently, the patient developed a cerebral embolus from a thrombus dislodged from a pseudoaneurysm of the cervical carotid artery, resulting in complete occlusion of the distal internal carotid artery. After antiplatelet therapy, the distal internal carotid artery recanalized, and the pseudoaneurysm occluded spontaneously. We stress the need for the use of arteriography in the initial evaluation of penetrating injuries to the neck and the utility of repeated arteriograms for further treatment planning as these traumatic lesions can change with time.

Penetrating carotid artery injury by air rifle: a case report

“…Optimising the operative planning is aided by radiological investigations. Many authors have recommended conventional angiography as a powerful modality allowing the detection of traumatic arterio-venous fistulas and pseudoaneurysms and its value in eliminating nontherapeutic neck explorations considering its high negative predictive value [ 16 , 17 ]. Authors of a case report involving air rifle injury to the external carotid artery report facing unexpected intraoperative bleeding upon clearing a haematoma.…”