Death after carotid sinus trauma is usually attributed to death from inhibition, a type of sudden death. Currently, the number of incidents is scarce, and related studies are few. Therefore, how to determine the involvement of carotid sinus and determine the role of diseases in the cause of death has always been a difficult point in forensic investigation. This article sorts out the research literature on carotid sinus related death at home and abroad in recent years, systematically reviews the anatomic structure of the carotid sinus nerve, the clinical epidemiology of carotid sinus syndrome, and the research on the death mechanism of carotid sinus injury at home and abroad in recent years, in order to provide references for forensic pathology research and prosecution.
Carotid Sinus ; Death, Sudden ; Forensic Medicine ; Forensic Pathology ; Humans

Carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF) is a rare and dangerous neurological disorder that arises due to an abnormal communication between the internal carotid artery (ICA) or the external carotid artery (ECA) and their branches and the cavernous sinus. It can either be a direct fistula (high-flow with acute symptoms) most commonly resulting from trauma (70-90%) or an indirect fistula (low-flow with insidious symptoms) secondary to hypertension, atherosclerosis and collagen vascular disorders. The shunting of arterial blood into the venous system leads to venous hypertension causing various clinical manifestations depending on the venous drainage patterns and the shunt flow. Increased anterior, posterior and superior venous drainage results to orbital/ocular, cavernous and cortical symptomatology, respectively. This paper aims to present a case of 58-year old Filipino female with a 2-day history of sudden, severe headache, vomiting and blurring of vision followed by decrease in sensorium and sudden proptosis and chemosis of the left eye. Patient had no co-morbidities, history of trauma, surgeries, facial skin infections or prior febrile illness. The left eye had exophthalmos, subconjunctival hyperemia, scleral edema/chemosis and ocular bruit. Neurologic examination showed a stuporous patient with multiple cranial nerve deficits (impaired direct and consensual pupillary reflex left, complete ptosis left, sluggish corneal reflex left, impaired oculocephalic reflex left), right hemiplegia and meningeal signs. Cranial Computed Tomography (CT) Angiogram revealed an acute parenchymal hemorrhage in the left frontotemporal lobe with subarachnoid component, with engorged left cavernous sinus and dilated left superior ophthalmic vein. Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) was done revealing a direct type of left carotid-cavernous fistula with massive ICA shunting to the cavernous sinus, superior ophthalmic vein and inferior petrosal sinus. The clinical and radiographic evidence were consistent with a Direct/Type A CCF. Unique in this case was a patient with no history of trauma presenting with simultaneous orbital/ocular, cavernous and cortical symptomatology – a clinical picture of CCF that has never been documented in any literature nor included in any classification system. The presence of all three symptomatology can be explained by a direct/highflow fistula that resulted to increased anterior, posterior and superior venous drainage as documented in the DSA. In addition, spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage in CCF is exceptionally rare and it is the most daunting symptomatology of this disease. With that, this specific case may pave the way to a new classification scheme and determine its corresponding treatment approach.
Carotid-Cavernous Sinus Fistula ; Cavernous Sinus

A carotid-cavernous sinus fistula is a rare condition in which an abnormal communication exists between the internal or external carotid artery and the cavernous sinus. It typically occurs within a few weeks after craniomaxillofacial trauma. In most cases, the carotid-cavernous sinus fistula occurs on the same side as the craniomaxillofacial fracture. We report a case of delayed carotidcavernous sinus fistula that developed symptoms 7 months after the craniomaxillofacial fracture. The fistula developed on the side opposite to that of the craniomaxillofacial fracture. Based on our experience with this case, we recommend a long follow-up period of 7–8 months after the occurrence of a craniomaxillofacial fracture. We also recommend that the follow-up should include consideration of the side contralateral to the injury.
Carotid Artery, External ; Carotid-Cavernous Sinus Fistula ; Cavernous Sinus ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies

PURPOSE: We report a patient with delayed-onset abducens nerve palsy and Horner syndrome after endovascular treatment of traumatic carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF). CASE SUMMARY: A 68-year-female visited our ophthalmic department complaining of gradual-onset ptosis of the left eye and horizontal diplopia. She had undergone endovascular treatment to treat left-sided traumatic CCF after a car accident 10 years before; she had been told at that time that the treatment outcome was favorable. The left-sided ptosis gradually developed 6 years after the procedure, accompanied by diplopia. The left eye exhibited miosis and the extent of anisocoria increased in dim light. An extraocular examination revealed 30 prism diopters of left esotropia in the primary gaze and a −4 abduction limitation of the left eye. CCF recurrence was suspected; however, magnetic resonance imaging with magnetic resonance angiography of brain did not support this. The esotropia did not improve during the 6-month follow-up and strabismus surgery was performed. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed-onset abducens nerve palsy and Horner syndrome can develop even after successful endovascular treatment of CCF. Strabismus surgery should be considered in patients whose diplopia does not spontaneously improve.
Abducens Nerve Diseases ; Abducens Nerve ; Anisocoria ; Brain ; Carotid-Cavernous Sinus Fistula ; Diplopia ; Esotropia ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Horner Syndrome ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Miosis ; Recurrence ; Strabismus ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the efficacy of new delta carotid sinus massage (CSM) versus conventional CSM (CM). METHODS: This prospective, cross-over study was conducted on 26 healthy volunteers with a normal sinus rhythm. CM and delta CSM (DM) were performed in all participants. In both cases, the CSM was performed, where the maximal carotid pulse was palpated. DM differed from CM in that the physician moves the palpating finger in the opposite direction of the carotid pulse at least twice. The mean and longest R-R intervals and mean and lowest heart rates (HRs) at the baseline and during the procedure for each technique were compared. The mean differences between the baseline and procedure R-R intervals and the HRs for each technique were also evaluated. RESULTS: The baseline mean and longest R-R intervals and baseline mean and lowest HRs were similar both groups (P>0.05). The procedure DM mean and longest R-R intervals (22.7±3.1, 26.4±4.9) were significantly greater than the CM corresponding values (22.0±3.1, 24.6±3.5; P<0.001, P=0.003). Procedure DM mean and lowest HRs (67.3±9.7, 58.6±10.7) were significantly lower than the CM corresponding values (69.4±10.0, 61.8±8.9; P=0.001, P=0.003). The differences in the R-R interval and HR between the procedure and baseline were significant (mean and longest R-R intervals with CM [1.3±1.5 and 2.1±1.9] vs. DM [2.0±1.4 and 3.8±3.1], P<0.001, P=0.004; mean and lowest HRs with CM [4.2±4.3 and 5.8±4.6] vs. DM [6.3±4.6 and 9.1±6.5], P<0.001, P=0.005). CONCLUSION: DM is more effective in generating a more potent vagal tone than CM.
Carotid Sinus ; Cross-Over Studies ; Electrocardiography ; Fingers ; Healthy Volunteers ; Heart Rate ; Massage ; Methods ; Pilot Projects ; Prospective Studies

A 54-year-old man, suffering from severe headache and ophthalmoplegia after undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery was referred to a tertiary hospital. Computed tomography (CT) revealed soft tissue density lesions in the left sphenoid sinus. The internal carotid artery was shown to be occluded in brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans without any other cerebral lesion. Endoscopic view of left nasal cavity shows whitish hyphae in the ethmoid and the sphenoid sinuses. We diagnosed him with cavernous sinus syndrome caused by mucormycosis and conducted endoscopic sinus surgery to remove remaining lesions and decompress orbit and optic nerves. After the revision surgery the patient's headache and ophthalmoplegia were improved. However, multifocal cerebral infarctions were newly discovered in a postoperative CT scan. We experienced a case of mucormycosis of sphenoid sinus resulting in occlusion of internal carotid artery and multifocal cerebral infarction, and report it with a brief review of these disease entities.
Brain ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Cavernous Sinus ; Cerebral Infarction ; Headache ; Humans ; Hyphae ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Mucormycosis ; Nasal Cavity ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Optic Nerve ; Orbit ; Sphenoid Sinus ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Paranasal sinus mucoceles are an uncommon cause of isolated palsies of cranial nerves III, IV, and VI. The trochlear nerve has been reported to be less frequently affected than the abducens and oculomotor nerves. Isolated sphenoid sinus diseases may cause serious complications by involving adjacent vital structures such as the optic nerve, cavernous sinus, internal carotid artery, and cranial nerves III–VI. We report a case of a 76-year-old woman who presented to our emergency department with a chief complaint of acute double vision and headache. Her diplopia was diagnosed as left trochlear nerve palsy. Brain CT and MRI revealed expanding cystic lesions in both sphenoid sinuses with bony erosion of the left sinus wall. The patient underwent an endoscopic intranasal sphenoidotomy and recovered completely from diplopia at postoperative 2 months. The relationship between the trochlear nerve palsy and its anatomy is also discussed.
Aged ; Brain ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Cavernous Sinus ; Cranial Nerves ; Diplopia ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mucocele* ; Oculomotor Nerve ; Optic Nerve ; Paralysis ; Sphenoid Sinus* ; Trochlear Nerve Diseases* ; Trochlear Nerve*

BACKGROUND: Patients with acute ischemic stroke are susceptible  to  cardiac  arrhythmias  however,fatal arrhythmias  are  rare  in  the  absence  of  cardiac  disease.Cardiac arrhythmias can develop in lesions at the right side of the brain specifically the insular,frontal and parietal area.Data that show the direct relationship of ischemic stroke and arrhythmia are scarce but they are indirectly attributed to an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system.This paper aims to present a rare case of an association between a fatal arrhythmia and right thalamic infarct.  
CASE: Presenting a case of a 39-year-old admitted as a survivor of sudden cardiac death from ventricular fibrillation.She presented with a history of left sided weakness a week prior but no work-up was done. Baseline serum electrolytes and  cardiac markers were all normal.Electrocardiogram (ECG) post-cardioversion showed sinus tachycardia.Echocardiogram   and cardiac computed tomography (CT) angiography were normal.  Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and angiography (MRA) of the brain showed an acute infarct at the right thalamus and an absent left internal carotid artery (ICA).Electroencephalogram (EEG) was negative.Bisoprolol was given and an Automatic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (AICD) was subsequently placed.No recurrence of cardiac arrhythmia was noted on continuous cardiac telemetry monitoring during her hospitalization and on six months of follow-up.
CONCLUSION: Fatal cardiac arrhythmias, can occur in patients with  acute  thalamic  infarct  even  beyond  24  hours  in  the presence of other confounding factors despite the absence of cardiac pathology. This case showed the association of heightened  autonomic  imbalance  caused  by  an  acute stroke, decreased cerebral flow, and fatal arrhythmia. This elucidates the importance of cardiac monitoring in acute ischemic stroke. With the paucity of information on serious cardiac arrhythmia and ischemic stroke, a future study on this correlation will be useful.

Human ; Female ; Adult ; Bisoprolol ; Tachycardia, Sinus ; Ventricular Fibrillation ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Defibrillators, Implantable ; Electric Countershock ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Electrocardiography ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Heart Conduction System ; Stroke ; Thalamus ; Brain ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Telemetry ; Angiography ; Hospitalization ; Survivors ; Electrolytes

For the surgical approach to lesions around the cavernous sinus (CS), triangular spaces around CS have been devised. However, educational materials for learning the triangles were insufficient. The purpose of this study is to present educational materials about the triangles, consisting of a schematic diagram and 3-dimensional (3D) models with sectioned images. To achieve the purposes, other studies were analyzed to establish new definitions and names of the triangular spaces. Learning materials including schematic diagrams and 3D models with cadaver's sectioned images were manufactured. Our new definition was attested by observing the sectioned images and 3D models. The triangles and the four representative surgical approaches were stereoscopically indicated on the 3D models. All materials of this study were put into Portable Document Format file and were distributed freely at our homepage (anatomy.dongguk.ac.kr/triangles). By using our schematic diagram and the 3D models with sectioned images, ten triangles and the related structures could be understood and observed accurately. We expect that our data will contribute to anatomy education, surgery training, and radiologic understanding of the triangles and related structures.
Anatomy, Cross-Sectional ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Cavernous Sinus* ; Education ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Learning ; Microsurgery ; Neuroanatomy

A carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF) is an abnormal communication between the venous cavernous sinus and the carotid artery. The rupture of an intracavernous aneurysm is usually caused by trauma, but spontaneous rupture can also occur, with pregnancy being a contributing factor. We report a case of direct CCF due to rupture of a giant aneurysm in a postpartum woman.
Aneurysm* ; Carotid Arteries ; Cavernous Sinus ; Female ; Fistula* ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Postpartum Period* ; Pregnancy ; Rupture ; Rupture, Spontaneous