treatment
Last reviewed 01/2018
Urgent referral is required.
The fistula may resolve as a result of spontaneous thrombosis, otherwise it must be repaired. A variety of methods are available, none of which are entirely satisfactory. These include:
- ligation - first of the supraclinoid carotid and ophthalmic arteries intracranially, and then of the internal carotid in the neck
- direct repair of the fistula and cardiopulmonary bypass
- embolization - usually, detachable balloon catherisation