Inadvertent internal carotid artery (ICA) injury during transsphenoidal surgery: review of literature

Abstract

Abstract Background Internal carotid artery (ICA) injury is a hazardous catastrophe for the skull base surgery team. We aimed to illustrate the vital joints in this hazardous event during endoscopic surgery. Main text The condition is rare (1.1%) but fatal per se. Working in the field of endoscopic surgery is not free of charges. It demands a thorough knowledge of anatomy, variations, and pathoanatomy to expect what can be seen thereafter. Once the injury occurs, one must have a quite clear plan to proceed. Marvelous bleeding is confusing not only in the field but also in the mind process. Conclusion Endoscope teams when expose to this event should think in a stepwise manner. In our review, we explained the pathoanatomy of the field after an injury, pre-conditions of injury, and how to avoid certain drawbacks during management.

Keywords

• ICA
• Pituitary surgery
• Intraoperative injury
• Skull base surgery