Endovascular Management of Vascular Injury during Transsphenoidal Surgery

Interv Neuroradiol. 2013 Mar;19(1):102-9. doi: 10.1177/159101991301900116. Epub 2013 Mar 4.

Abstract

Vascular injury is an unusual and serious complication of transsphenoidal surgery. We aimed to define the role of angiography and endovascular treatment in patients with vascular injuries occurring during transsphenoidal surgery. During the last ten-year period, we retrospectively evaluated nine patients with vascular injury after transsphenoidal surgery. Eight patients were symptomatic due to vascular injury, while one had only suspicion of vascular injury during surgery. Four patients presented with epistaxis, two with subarachnoid hemorrhage, one with exophthalmos, and one with hemiparesia. Emergency angiography revealed a pseudoaneurysm in four patients, contrast extravasation in two, vessel dissection in one, vessel wall irregularity in one, and arteriovenous fistula in one. All patients but one were treated successfully with parent artery occlusion, with one covered stent implantation, one stent-assisted coiling method, while one patient was managed conservatively. One patient died due to complications related to the primary insult without rebleeding. Vascular injuries suspected intra or postoperatively must be investigated rapidly after transsphenoidal surgery. Endovascular treatment with parent artery occlusion is feasible with acceptable morbidity and mortality rates in the treatment of vascular injuries occurring in transsphenoidal surgery.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aneurysm, False / diagnostic imaging
  • Aneurysm, False / etiology
  • Aneurysm, False / therapy
  • Carotid Artery Injuries / diagnostic imaging
  • Carotid Artery Injuries / etiology
  • Carotid Artery Injuries / therapy*
  • Cerebral Angiography
  • Endovascular Procedures / methods*
  • Epistaxis / diagnostic imaging
  • Epistaxis / etiology
  • Epistaxis / therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intraoperative Complications / diagnostic imaging
  • Intraoperative Complications / etiology
  • Intraoperative Complications / therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurosurgical Procedures / adverse effects*
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Postoperative Complications / diagnostic imaging
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology
  • Postoperative Complications / therapy*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sphenoid Bone / surgery