An improved balloon catheter technique for the occlusion of carotid-cavernous sinus fistulas (CCF).

By means of a case report a shortcoming of balloon catheter techniques for intravascular occlusion of CCF is demonstrated: the procedure by which the balloon is detached from the filling catheter is unreliable and may further traumatise the vessel wall. We describe a new technique that allows careful, gentle, and effortless detachment of the balloon by means of a melting-off technic.