Endovascular treatment of post-pharyngitis internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysm with a covered stent in a child: a case report

Infective Native Extracranial Carotid Artery Aneurysms: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Infective native extracranial carotid artery aneurysms are rare, and their management is variable due to a lack of evidence assessing outcomes.

METHODS

We performed a systematic literature review following PRISMA guidelines to identify all reported cases of infective native extracranial carotid artery aneurysms between January 1970 and March 2021.

RESULTS

This study identified 193 infective native aneurysms of the extracranial carotid artery from 154 sources. Patients were predominantly male (71.4%), and age ranged from 6 months to 89 years old. The most common presenting features were a neck mass and fever, but also included hemorrhage, respiratory distress, and neurological symptoms. Most aneurysms were located in the internal carotid artery (47.4%). Staphylococcus (23.3%) was the most commonly identified causative pathogen, followed by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (20.9%). Most appeared to become infected by direct local spread. Treatment strategies involved open surgical methods in 101 cases and an endovascular approach in 41 cases. In 4 cases, a hybrid method involving concurrent endovascular and open surgical management was undertaken. In 5 cases, there was antibiotic treatment alone. In the open surgery-treated group, the complication rate was 20.8% compared to 13.2% in the endovascular group. Mortality rate was 5.6%.

CONCLUSIONS

Our review identified 193 cases of infective native extracranial carotid artery aneurysms. Direct local spread of a staphylococcus infection was the commonest cause. Endovascular management was associated with fewer early complications than open surgical management.

Infectious Pseudoaneurysm of the Internal Carotid Artery in a Child Secondary to Parapharyngeal Abscess

Infectious pseudoaneurysm is a rare condition characterized by arterial wall dilation, usually due to an adjacent infectious focus. We present an 8-year-old male with a 3-day history of progressive, severe headache 2 weeks after treatment for a parapharyngeal abscess. Computed tomography revealed a left internal carotid artery (ICA) pseudoaneurysm inferior to the skull base and a small parapharyngeal abscess inferior to the pseudoaneurysm. The patient was admitted for intravenous antibiotic treatment and underwent transfemoral endovascular coil occlusion of the cervical ICA pseudoaneurysm without complications. We discuss the presentation and management of rare vascular complications of parapharyngeal abscesses involving major arteries of the neck and the role of neurointerventional embolization in these cases.

Treatment of large infectious extracranial carotid artery pseudoaneurysms in children: a systematic review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

Extracranial carotid artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare complication of deep neck space infection, and no evidence-based treatment guidelines are available in the literature.

METHOD

To clarify the existing experience of the different treatment strategies, the authors performed a systematic literature search using the PubMed, Ovid EMBASE, and Scopus databases in accordance with PRISMA guidelines to review all reported cases of pediatric patients with infectious carotid pseudoaneurysms larger than 1 cm.

RESULTS

Twenty-six patients with a median age of 4 years (range 6 months-15 years) were identified. Eighteen patients (69.2%) were treated with endovascular methods, 6 patients (23.1%) with surgical methods, 1 patient (3.8%) with a hybrid endovascular/surgical approach, and 1 patient (3.8%) with conservative management. Recurrence of the pseudoaneurysm occurred in 2 cases (7.7%), both of which were successfully retreated. Of the 6 patients (23.1%) who presented with pre-procedure neurologic deficits, 3 patients had complete or near complete resolution of symptoms after intervention and 3 patients had persistent deficits at last follow-up. Four patients (15.4%) experienced new neurologic deficits post-procedure that resolved at last follow-up.

CONCLUSION

The endovascular treatment tends to be the preferred option to treat a large or giant infectious pseudoaneurysm of the carotid artery in the pediatric patient. However, more evidence is necessary to elucidate comparative safety and efficacy profiles of endovascular and surgical management strategies.

Infected "Mycotic" Aneurysm of the Common Carotid Artery-A Differential Diagnosis to Tumor of the Neck

Introduction: Infected "mycotic" Aneurysm (IA) of the extracranial carotid artery is a rare condition that can be fatal if mistaken for other pathology. An 83-year-old man presented with a mass on the neck initially suspected malignant. Weeks later it grew rapidly and was found to be an IA, thus requiring acute surgery. Via this case report, we discuss diagnostics and approach when diagnosing masses in relation to vessels of the neck not readily explained. Case Report: After diagnostic imaging and clinical assessment an unknown primary tumor of the neck was suspected. Fine needle aspiration was inconclusive. The patient did not present with any signs of infection or neurological symptoms-only discomfort and pain. Approximately two weeks later, the mass grew and the patient became dysphagic, febrile, and confused. Computed tomography angiography revealed an IA of the right common carotid artery. The patient underwent acute surgery consisting of ligation of the internal and external carotid arteries and resection of the internal jugular vein. The pathogen found was E. coli, supposedly from the bladder after surgical intervention due to polyposis. Conclusion: IA is a very rare entity and can have many etiologies. Since it can be fatal, it is necessary to keep IA in mind when diagnosing masses in relation to vessels of the neck. As shown in this case of a E. coli-induced IA, patients can present with atypical symptoms, on diagnostic imaging it can be mistaken for other pathology, and pathogenesis can be unclear.

Endovascular management of iatrogenic cervical internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysm in a 9-year-old child: Case report and literature review

Extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) pseudoaneurysms are uncommon in the pediatric population and are usually secondary to direct trauma to the vessel. Treatment options include surgery (ligation), anticoagulation therapy and endovascular treatment. Endovascular covered stents have shown good results in adult populations, resulting in occlusion of the aneurysm and preservation of the artery without significant complications. However, there have been only limited reports in the literature reporting endovascular carotid stent placement in the pediatric population. We report a case of a 9-year-old boy patient, who developed a cervical ICA pseudoaneurysm after a parapharyngeal tumor resection. He was successfully treated by primary endovascular covered stent placement. During a follow-up of 6 months the patient has been asymptomatic, without any adverse event. Additionally, a literature review is done.

Internal Carotid Artery Pseudoaneurysm and Ischemic Stroke Secondary to Retropharyngeal and Parapharyngeal Abscess

Internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysm is an uncommon complication of retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal abscess in children. Treatment of the pseudoaneurysm has evolved in recent years from surgical ligation to endovascular techniques. Neurologic sequelae most commonly consist of Horner's syndrome with cerebral ischemia being uncommon. The clinical course of a 2-year-old boy with retropharyngeal abscess complicated by internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysm, is described and the literature is reviewed. A conventional angiogram confirmed the presence of a large pseudoaneurysm with no anterograde flow distal to the pseudoaneurysm and substantial collateral flow across the circle of Willis, with filling of the left anterior and middle cerebral arteries via the anterior and posterior communicating arteries. Endovascular occlusion resulted in nonfilling of the left internal carotid artery, pseudoaneurysm, and left internal jugular vein at the base of the skull. Following the procedure, the patient developed transient mild right hemiparesis associated with frontal lobe ischemia.

Vessel-preserving stent-assisted coil embolization of an extracranial internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysm that developed after tonsillectomy in a pediatric patient: initial case report

Although there have been reports of carotid artery pseudoaneurysm formation after adenoidectomy and/or tonsillectomy secondary to iatrogenic injury, there are no case reports of successful endovascular reconstruction of the injured artery in the pediatric population. In most pediatric cases, the internal carotid artery (ICA) is sacrificed. The authors report on a 6-year-old girl who presented with odynophagia, left-sided Horner's syndrome, hematemesis, and severe anemia 6 months after a tonsillectomy. On examination she was found to have a pulsatile mass along the left posterior lateral oropharynx, and imaging demonstrated a dissection of the extracranial left ICA and an associated pseudoaneurysm. The lesion was managed endovascularly with stent-assisted coil embolization and ICA reconstruction. The child had a somewhat complicated postoperative course, requiring additional coil embolization for treatment of a minor recurrence of the pseudoaneurysm at 5 months after the initial treatment and then presenting with extrusion of a portion of the coil mass into the oropharyngeal cavity a year later. She underwent surgical removal of the extruded coils and repair of the defect and has since been free of symptoms or signs of recurrence. The authors conclude that this strategy definitively protected the patient against an oral exsanguination or aspiration event secondary to aneurysm rupture and reduced her risk of stroke by preserving vessel patency and caliber. Moreover, they note that covered stent reconstruction surrenders endovascular access and cannot immediately provide these benefits.

Extracranial internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysm in a two-year-old child: case report

BACKGROUND

Extracranial internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysm is very rare in children.

METHOD

This paper discusses the case of a boy, aged two years and six months, who presented with an enlarging neck mass and unilateral bloody otorrhoea. Special investigations revealed an extracranial internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysm.

RESULTS

The patient made a full recovery after endovascular occlusion of the internal carotid artery and pseudoaneurysm using coils. At six months' follow up, the internal carotid artery and pseudoaneurysm remained excluded from the circulation. The patient did not display any neurological deficits during hospital stay or follow up.

CONCLUSION

This paper reports on one of the youngest patients documented to date who presented with an internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysm, possibly secondary to ear infection. Although rare, this condition should be excluded in children presenting with a mass of the neck or pharynx because of the dire consequences if left undiagnosed and untreated.

Neurovascular stents in pediatric population

PURPOSE

The purpose of the study is to analyze the results obtained using stents for the treatment of neurovascular diseases in pediatric patients.

METHODS

A retrospective study of 6-year period was undertaken evaluating clinical charts and imaging studies of patients treated with stents because of neurovascular diseases.

RESULTS

Nine patients were managed with 10 stents. Seven children were females. The median age was 11 years. There were four cases of broad neck cerebral aneurysms, a pseudoaneurysm of the cervical internal carotid artery, a vertebro-jugular fistula, two patients with internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis affecting the cervical and supraclinoid segment, and a vertebral artery dissection. The only complication was a silent posterior communicating artery (PCoA) thrombosis in a PCoA aneurysm treated with two stents. Dual antiplatelet therapy was given after the procedure to avoid in stent thrombosis.

CONCLUSION

Stents are safe and effective for treatment of neurovascular diseases in children, but studies are needed in order to protocolize the use of antiplatelet drugs in children.

Endovascular treatment of an infected pseudoaneurysm secondary to retropharyngeal abscess in a child

We describe a rare case of carotid pseudoaneurysm secondary to a retropharyngeal abscess, treated with coil embolization in a 2-year-old boy. The patient presented to an emergency department with symptoms suggesting meningitis but was subsequently diagnosed with streptococcal pharyngitis. He was discharged home on oral antibiotics after a short hospitalization. He returned to the emergency department two weeks later with limited neck motion and pain. Neck CT demonstrated a retropharyngeal abscess with a large left cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) pseudoaneurysm. The petrous ICA distal to the pseudoaneurysm had thrombosed prior to treatment. The ICA proximal to the pseudoaneurysm was sacrificed with coil embolization. Post-treatment imaging demonstrated complete thrombosis of the pseudoaneurysm but also demonstrated acute strokes in the left MCA/ACA watershed distribution. His parents noted that the patient was clumsier and exhibited some mild speech changes and a steppage gait prior to evaluation in the ED; therefore, these were thought to be secondary to emboli from partial thrombosis of the pseudoaneurysm prior to treatment. The patient was discharged home in good condition and his neurological function improved.