A Case of Carotid Sinus Reflex Caused by Manual Aspiration Thrombectomy Using a Balloon Guide Catheter

When starting a mechanical thrombectomy, manual aspiration with balloon guide catheters inserted into the internal carotid artery (ICA) is an efficient method for thrombus aspiration. However, no complications associated with this procedure have been reported. This study describes the case of a 76-y...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inCurēus (Palo Alto, CA) Vol. 16; no. 3; p. e56253
Main Authors Kubota, Yuki, Oya, Fusakazu, Higashiyama, Fumiko
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Cureus Inc 16.03.2024
Cureus
Subjects
Anatomy
Aphasia
Blood clots
Blood pressure
Cardiac arrhythmia
Carotid arteries
Case reports
Catheters
Dopamine
Embolisms
Hypotension
Magnetic resonance imaging
Medical equipment
Medical imaging
Neurosurgery
Patients
Stroke
Veins & arteries
United States > US
Japan
carotid sinus reflex
acute ischemic stroke (ais)
cardiogenic cerebral embolism
manual aspiration thrombectomy
balloon guide catheter
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Summary:When starting a mechanical thrombectomy, manual aspiration with balloon guide catheters inserted into the internal carotid artery (ICA) is an efficient method for thrombus aspiration. However, no complications associated with this procedure have been reported. This study describes the case of a 76-year-old man who presented to our hospital with total aphasia and complete right-sided paralysis due to chronic atrial fibrillation and left occlusion of the ICA. When the balloon guide catheter was inserted and inflated at the origin of the left ICA, the patient's systolic blood pressure suddenly decreased from 114 mm Hg to 44 mm Hg. This sudden hypotension may have been caused by the carotid sinus reflex. Hypotension improved following balloon deflation. The procedure was continued, resulting in complete recanalization of the left ICA. The patient died from acute exacerbation of interstitial pneumonia. Although this complication is rare, similar phenomena have been recognized in carotid artery stenting and the use of flow-diverting devices. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a case wherein the carotid sinus reflex was induced by manual aspiration using a balloon guide catheter placed in the ICA. Clinicians should recognize the importance of ensuring that the proximal end of the balloon crosses the carotid sinus when dilating and occluding the ICA with a balloon to avoid the carotid sinus reflex.
ISSN:2168-8184
2168-8184
DOI:10.7759/cureus.56253