Management of an internal carotid artery injury during open skull base surgery with a crushed muscle patch: technical note and lessons learned

BACKGROUND: Iatrogenic internal carotid artery (ICA) injury is a catastrophic complication in open skull base surgery. There is a lack of information regarding the most appropriate techniques on how to manage this complication.

OBJECTIVE: To highlight the difficulties encountered when an ICA injury arises intraoperatively and discuss the role and the potential pitfalls of the crushed muscle patch in the management of an ICA injury during open skull base surgery.

METHODS: In this technical video, we demonstrate the management of intraoperative ICA injury, which occurred during the resection of a diffuse planum sphenoidale meningioma via a left pterional craniotomy.

RESULTS: When isolation of the defect with temporary clips failed, we opted for a crushed muscle graft to plug the defect. Hemostasis was achieved, but because of prolonged pressure application and "overpacking," the parent vessel was occluded.

CONCLUSION: The crushed muscle patch can be easily applied; however, care must be taken not to "overpack" and occlude the ICA.