Posttraumatic carotid-cavernous fistulae treated by internal carotid artery trapping and high-flow bypass using a radial artery graft--two case reports.

Two patients presented with post-traumatic carotid-cavernous sinus fistulae (CCFs) that were successfully treated by high-flow bypass using a radial artery graft after initial unsuccessful attempts at obliteration by intravascular embolization. Case 1 was a 20-year-old man with a CCF detected by magnetic resonance imaging and angiography following an accident. Although the CCF appeared partially occluded by intravascular embolization, serial angiography revealed CCF recurrence. The CCF was trapped by placing a high-flow bypass. Case 2 was a 21-year-old man who presented with bilateral CCFs after sustaining face trauma. The bilateral CCFs were directly treated because of recurrence after balloon occlusion. At present, intravascular surgery is the first treatment choice, but placing a high-flow bypass with trapping of the CCF gained time to treat the CCF and may be useful for treating post-traumatic CCF that cannot be effectively eliminated by intravascular techniques.