An aberrant carotid artery in the temporal bone with fatal complication.

ABSTRACT

We report the case of an 84-year-old female presenting with an aberrant ICA with cerebral air embolization caused by Eustachian tube air inflation (ETAI). High pressure of air inflation developed because of an aberrant ICA blocking the tympanic orifice of the Eustachian tube, with release of the high-pressure air into the aberrant ICA. It must be kept in mind that complications may occur not only during transtympanic treatment, but also in any treatment, such as ETAI, in aberrant ICA cases.