Management of Major Arterial Injuries: A Critical Complication of Endoscopic Endonasal Surgery

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Endoscopic endonasal surgery (EES) is the preferred approach for treating sellar and parasellar lesions due to its panoramic view and detailed anatomical definition. This study aims to review major arterial injuries during EES, a rare but critical complication associated with high mortality and morbidity rates.METHODS:A retrospective analysis was conducted, including 15 patients from 5640 EES procedures performed between August 1997 and February 2024 at in our center/Department of Neurosurgery. The study focuses on perioperative and postoperative management strategies, highlighting the use of oxidized regenerated cellulose (Surgicel (R))/gelatin-thrombin matrix (Floseal (R)) and multidisciplinary collaboration to achieve hemostasis.RESULTS:The incidence of major arterial injury was 0.2%, with a mean patient age of 38.4 years and a female-to-male ratio of 10:5. The most common tumors were adenomas (n = 7) and chordomas (n = 5). The most commonly bleeding arteries in 6 patients each are the cavernous segment of the internal carotid artery and the paraclival carotid artery. Low-flow bleeding was observed in 10 of our patients, while high-flow bleeding was seen in 5 patients, 4 of whom were recurrent cases (P < .05). In 3 patients with high-flow bleeding from segments of the carotid artery, digital subtraction angiography was performed for stent placement or coil embolization, while in 1 patient with high-flow bleeding, digital subtraction angiography was used for monitoring cerebral blood flow. One of our patients died of a myocardial infarction at the 14th month of follow-up and 1 of our patients developed left-hemiparesis.CONCLUSION:The study underscores the importance of preoperative planning, surgical expertise, and multidisciplinary teamwork in managing major arterial injuries during EES. The authors advocate for the development of standardized treatment algorithms to improve outcomes in these patients. The findings contribute to the limited literature on managing internal carotid artery injuries in EES, emphasizing the need for ongoing research and algorithm development.