Monitoring the successful embolization of an arterio-venous fistula by a fibreoptic jugular vein catheter

Abstract

The management of surgical embolization of a posttraumatic carotid-cavernous fistula is reported in this study. The procedure was successfully performed with the aid of a fibreoptic intravascular catheter, which was monitoring continuously the changes of the jugular venous oxygen saturation. Jugular venous oxygen saturation monitoring effectively confirmed the success of embolization without the need for intraoperative angiography, by manifesting an abrupt return of oxygen saturation from arterial to normal venous values immediately after embolization.