Delayed presentation and management of a common carotid pseudoaneurysm following penetrating trauma with a retrograde open carotid stent graft

Abstract

Traumatic injuries of the head and neck present a difficult diagnostic and therapeutic challenge when identified in a delayed manner. Pseudoaneurysm formation has been reported in the literature typically with regard to blunt mechanisms; however, a delayed presentation following penetrating injury is a rare finding, much less described. In this case report, we describe a pseudoaneurysm of the common carotid artery as a result of penetrating trauma to the thorax.