Carotid-cavernous fistula with secondary ocular hypertension: case report

Abstract

Case presentation. 62 years old female with ten months history of ocular pain, proptosis, and conjunctival hyperemia in left eye, developing swollen upper eyelid. Best corrected visual acuity was 20/30 in her left eye, with and intraocular pressure of 30 mmHg. Treatment. Nuclear magnetic resonance of the orbits showed proptosis and dilated superior ophthalmic vein. Initial diagnosis. Abnormal venous drainage and ocular hypertension in the left eye. Topical hypotensive treatment of the left eye was initiated with ocular hypotensive eyedrops. Angiotomography of the orbit and left eye Doppler ultrasound, with upper eyelid emphasis, gave visualization of high flow carotid-cavernous fistula. Cerebral diagnostic and therapeutic angiography with embolization of the fistula in middle meningeal and ascending pharyngeal arteries showed no vascular flow after the procedure. Outcome. Positive clinical outcome, with corrected visual acuity conserved and normal eye pressure. Notable relief of ocular congestion and swollen upper eyelid with no proptosis in the left eye. Doppler ultrasound in the upper eyelid showed normal flow rate measurement.