Carotid cavernous fistula associated with Fogarty catheter angioplasty.

Carotid cavernous fistulae are usually the consequence of a vascular tear due to head trauma or a ruptured infraclinoid aneurysm. Although rare , iatrogenic carotid cavernous fistulae can result from percutaneous retrogasserian procedures, transsphenoidal hypophysectomy, and thromboembolectomy via a Fogarty catheter [1-3] . Since the first report on the use of Fogarty catheters in 1963 [4], only 10 iatrogenic cases have been described. We describe an iatrogenic carotid cavernous fistula that occurred in a patient who was treated with a Fogarty catheter for fibromuscular dysplasia. The fistula was closed with a detachable balloon [5].