Carotid artery dissection following adenoidectomy

Abstract

Carotid dissection and cerebral infarction are extremely rare complications of adenoidectomy. We describe the case of seven year old girl, who suffered from left internal carotid artery dissection following adenoidectomy, leading to right hemiplegia with global aphasia. A CT angiogram confirmed a loop in contralateral right internal carotid artery. It is presumed that a similar loop also existed in left internal carotid artery, which possibly extended medially close to posterior pharyngeal wall and was injured during the course of surgery.

Keywords: Adenoidectomy; Carotid artery dissection; Internal carotid artery.