Carotid-cavernous sinus fistula following mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischaemic stroke: a rare complication

Abstract

Carotid-cavernous sinus fistulas (CCFs) are abnormal communications between the internal carotid artery (ICA) and the cavernous sinus (CS). Direct CCFs are associated with trauma or are iatrogenic complications of neuroendovascular procedures. Meanwhile, mechanical endovascular thrombectomy (MT) in acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) has been established as a common treatment approach. However, MT is not without its risks of complications, and only a few reports exist on CCF occurring after MT. Here, we present a case of a 63-year-old patient with iatrogenic high-flow CCF of the right horizontal cavernous ICA segment (C4) following repeated MT due to LVO of the middle cerebral artery, and the recent literature is reviewed.