Cerebral Venous Air Embolism: A Rare Clinical Challenge and Management Insights.

Cerebral air embolism (CAE) is a rare but life-threatening condition often associated with trauma, such as chest and skull injuries, which allow air to enter the venous system, as well as medical procedures and surgical interventions. It can occur during the insertion of peripheral cannulas or central midline catheters, following lung biopsy procedures, or during vascular surgeries, particularly those involving the head and neck region. CAE can also develop during the removal of central venous cannulas, as air may enter the bloodstream in the process.

Retropharyngeal carotid body tumor: A challenge in terms of surgical technicality.

Introduction And Importance: Carotid body tumors are rare neoplasms originating from neural crest cells, commonly presenting as a painless, slow-growing mass in the lateral neck. The retropharyngeal variant of these tumors is particularly uncommon, with an incidence of approximately 2.6 %.

Treatment of Post Neck Radiation Carotid Blowout Syndrome with Viabahn Stent Placement.

Carotid blowout syndrome (CBS) is a critical and often fatal complication associated with head and neck malignancies. CBS is characterized by 3 stages as follows: threatened, impending, and acute rupture or hemorrhage. The condition is notably linked with a history of radiotherapy for head and neck cancers, with an incidence of approximately 3-4% among those who have received such treatments.

Incidental finding of aberrant left common carotid artery during intracerebral hemorrhage examination.

We report a case involving an aortic arch anomaly that has not been previously documented. The patients were a 76-year-old female who was urgently transported to the hospital because of a sudden disturbance of consciousness. Neurological symptoms indicated impending brain herniation, and the patient was diagnosed with hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (left putamen-thalamus) and acute hydrocephalus, thereafter she died approximately 6 hours after arrival.

Navigating the Interplay of Sickle Cell Vasculopathy and Moyamoya Cerebrovascular Changes: A Case Report.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary hemoglobinopathy that can lead to progressive vasculopathy, increasing the risk of cerebrovascular complications. Moyamoya syndrome (MMS), a rare disorder characterized by stenosis of the internal carotid arteries, can occur in SCD patients due to chronic endothelial damage and inflammation. The coexistence of these conditions can result in severe cerebrovascular complications, presenting unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.

Head and neck paragangliomas: Recent advances in translational and clinical research and guidelines for patient care.

Head and neck paragangliomas (HNPGLs), rare neuroendocrine tumors that mainly arise from parasympathetic ganglia along the cranial nerves, are challenging due to anatomic origin, tendency to aggressive neurovascular and skull base infiltration, unpredictable metastatic potential, radio-chemoresistance, and risk of multiplicity. Symptoms range from mild to life threatening depending on location/size, but rarely relate to catecholamine excess. Risk factors include female sex and pathogenic germline variants in genes affecting hypoxia signaling (foremost succinate dehydrogenase genes).

Endovascular management of intracranial carotid blowout syndrome in patients with head and neck cancer.

Background: Carotid blowout syndrome is a serious complication of head and neck cancer (HNC) that may involve the intracranial or extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA). Although parent artery occlusion (PAO) is the major endovascular treatment for intracranial carotid blowout syndrome (iCBS), the efficacy of using a balloon-expandable coronary stent-graft (BES) remains unclear.

Methods: This was a quasi-randomized trial, prospective study that included patients with iCBS treated by BES or PAO between 2018 and 2024.

Porcelain Aorta and Quadruple Extracranial Vessel Occlusion: A Case of Minimal Neurological Deficits Despite Severe Vascular Blockages.

BACKGROUND Cerebrovascular occlusion is a critical health concern associated with strokes, a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Large vessel occlusion, constituting a significant portion of acute ischemic strokes, presents serious patient outcomes. Occlusions involving multiple extracranial vessels are rare but pose challenges in early detection due to potential absence of overt symptoms.

The Role of Internal Carotid Artery Stent in the Management of Skull Base Paragangliomas.

After two decades from its introduction in the lateral skull base paraganglioma surgery, the indications and results of preoperative internal carotid artery stenting should be critically assessed. Monocentric retrospective study on 26 patients affected by head and neck paragangliomas (19 tympanojugular paragangliomas, 4 carotid body paragangliomas, 3 vagal paragangliomas) preoperatively treated with internal carotid artery stents between 2008 and 2023. The preoperative findings, the intraoperative complications and the final surgical results were analyzed.

Traumatic Vocal Fold Paralysis from Fishbone Foreign Body: Diagnosis and Management.

Fish bone foreign bodies (FFBs) are relatively common but can present diagnostic challenges. Herein, we report a case of a 43-year-old female who initially presented to the Emergency Department with fever and throat discomfort after a choking incident, which led to a misdiagnosis of a viral infection after negative chest X-ray findings. Persistent symptoms, including new-onset vocal cord paralysis, prompted further investigation and an otolaryngology - head and neck surgery referral one month later.

Life-threatening Carotid Complications Caused by Extraluminal Migration of Ingested Foreign Bodies; a Case Report and Narrative Review of Literature.

Carotid complications resulting from extra-luminal migration of ingested foreign bodies (FB) are rare but potentially life-threatening. Previous data on the topic predominantly comprises isolated case reports, leaving a gap in comprehensive evidence necessary to guide clinical decision-making. In this article, we offer a narrative review alongside a novel case report, aimed at providing a broad, evidence-based perspective on the topic to guide clinical practice.

Treatment experience for different risk groups of Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma.

Background: Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma (KHE) is a rare vascular tumor with a high risk of mortality. Few studies with large samples of KHE have been reported. KHE may develop into the Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon (KMP), which is characterized by thrombocytopenia and consumptive coagulopathy.

Nasopharyngeal Migration of Coils Following Embolization of a Traumatic Pseudoaneurysm of the Internal Carotid Artery: A Case Report.

Post-traumatic pseudoaneurysms of the internal carotid are a rare but potentially fatal cause of epistaxis; they are associated with fractures of the base of the skull with involvement of the carotid canal. Endovascular management is the preferred therapeutic strategy, with optimal long-term results and low complication rates. Complications may include thromboembolic events, infarction of perforating arteries, and rupture of the pseudoaneurysm.

Endoscopic Repair of Internal Carotid Artery Injury with a Lateral Tongue Muscle Patch Graft: Novel Technique and Literature Review.

 Iatrogenic injury to the internal carotid artery (ICA) is one of the most catastrophic complications of endoscopic sinus and skull base surgery. Previous research has shown that packing with a crushed muscle graft at the injury site can be an effective management technique to control bleeding and prevent the need for ICA sacrifice. Here, we describe a novel and readily available repair donor site-an autologous lateral tongue muscle patch.

Management of penetrating cervical injury from needlefish impalement: A case report.

Introduction: Injuries inflicted by needlefish resemble stab wounds, resulting from the rapid and forceful jumping of needlefish jaws from the water's surface. Needlefish impalement on the neck and face are often fatal compared to body areas or extremities. This case report investigates a rare incident where a 50-year-old male tourist sustained a cervical injury from needlefish impalement during an inter-island cruise.