Spontaneous Healing of a Carotid Cavernous Fistula Caused by a Gunshot

Case Details

Personal Characteristics

22-year-old male

Clinical Characteristics

Unconscious on admission, spontaneous movements of the right side, hemiparesis on the left side, wide and stiff right pupil, medium wide left pupil reacting to light, hemorrhage of the nasal region and pharynx, pulsating exophthalmos on the right side, high temperature, spastic hemiparesis of the left side and ophthalmoplegia on the right side, visual acuity was 0.5 in the right eye, and 1.0 in the left

Remission Characteristics

Spontaneous cure of carotid cavernous fistula, complete regression of the pulsating exophthalmos, no pathological increase of density in the region of the formerly proven aneurysm of the internal carotid artery

Treatment & Mechanisms

Proposed Remission Mechanisms

Spontaneous obliteration of the ipsilateral internal carotid artery

Clinical Treatment

Artificial respiration, dexamethasone, osmotic diuresis, tamponage of the nose, rehabilitation

Additional Notes

The patient shot himself in the mouth with a shotgun with suicidal intention. The patient was reexamined 4 years later and showed subjective well-being, and had completed commercial education. His neurological symptomatology was unchanged.