A protocol for management of a catastrophic complication of functional endoscopic sinus surgery: internal carotid artery injury.

Injury to the cavernous portion of the internal carotid artery is a well recognized and dreaded complication of functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Little information, however, has been presented in the Otolaryngology literature regarding the etiology, prevention, or treatment of this complication. The purpose of this study is to present a case report of a cavernous carotid artery injury during functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Relevant anatomy, preventive measures, and treatment approaches are discussed for this difficult problem.