Transcranial cerebral oximetry and carotid cavernous fistula occlusion. Technical note.

Different methods have been used in the evaluation and monitoring of the cerebral oxygen supply during neuro-interventional therapies. Attenuation of near-infrared light by the chromophores oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin have shown to be useful in the study of the cellular oxygen metabolism and oxygen delivery to the brain. Transcranial cerebral oximetry (TCCO) has the advantage of providing real-time information regarding regional brain oxygen saturation (rSO2) by using wavelengths in the near-infrared range. We present a patient with a carotid cavernous fistula who underwent balloon occlusion and concurrent continuous TCCO monitoring. TCCO was found to be a useful tool providing immediate rSO2 values during the angiographic and interventional procedures. Initial balloon occlusion of a carotid cavernous fistula resulted in partial occlusion of the internal carotid artery lumen causing an immediate decrease in rSO2 which correlated with angiographic findings. Subsequent reocclusion of the fistula produced a slower and smaller degree of decrease in rSO2 with clinical improvement in the patient. Changes in rSO2 were detected before any adverse clinical event was observed. TCCO was reliable, safe, sensitive, and provided a real-time assessment tool for the monitoring of brain oxygen supply in a patient undergoing a neuroendovascular procedure.