Microsurgical recovery of a migrated balloon from the internal carotid artery of a child.

A child developed a traumatic intrapetrous internal carotid aneurysm after a routine myringotomy. The aneurysm was treated by occlusion of the internal carotid artery by the detachable balloon technique. Unfortunately, both balloons migrated and ischemic sequelae resulted when one of the balloons became lodged in the bifurcation of the internal carotid artery. The balloon was successfully retrieved during an emergency microsurgical embolectomy, and the child's neurological deficit was reversed. The management of both the intrapetrous aneurysm and the balloon migration are discussed.