Reversible acute and subacute myelopathy in patients with dural arteriovenous fistulas

1989 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 354-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory R. Criscuolo ◽  
Edward H. Oldfield ◽  
John L. Doppman
Keyword(s):  
Surgical Techniques ◽  
Venous Congestion ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Av Fistula ◽  
Arteriovenous Fistulas ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas ◽  
Av Malformation ◽  
Av Fistulas ◽  
Spinal Cord Dysfunction

✓ Acute or subacute neurological deterioration without evidence of hemorrhage in a patient with a spinal arteriovenous (AV) malformation has been referred to as “Foix-Alajouanine syndrome.” This clinical entity has been considered to be the result of progressive vascular thrombosis resulting in a necrotic myelopathy; it has therefore been thought to be largely irreversible and hence untreatable. The authors report five patients with dural AV fistulas who presented in this manner, and who improved substantially after embolic and surgical therapy. The outcome of these patients indicates that acute and subacute progression of myelopathy in cases of spinal dural AV fistulas may be caused by venous congestion and not necessarily by thrombosis. Therefore, a clinical diagnosis of Foix-Alajouanine syndrome is of little practical use, as spinal cord dysfunction from venous congestion is a potentially reversible process whereas thrombotic infarction is not. This diagnosis may result in suboptimal management. The recognition of nonhemorrhagic acute or subacute myelopathy as a complication of a spinal dural AV fistula is important since what appears to be irreversible cord injury is often treatable by standard surgical techniques.

Radiological and pathological aspects of dural arteriovenous fistulas

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 962-967 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas A. Graeb ◽  
Clarisse L. Dolman
Keyword(s):  
Superior Sagittal Sinus ◽  
Blood Clot ◽  
Pathological Examination ◽  
Pathological Findings ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Av Fistula ◽  
Arteriovenous Fistulas ◽  
Sagittal Sinus ◽  
Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas ◽  
Av Fistulas

✓ A case of dural arteriovenous (AV) fistula is presented with detailed radiological and pathological findings. The complex hemodynamic alterations that may result from dural AV fistulas are described. Pathological examination in this case demonstrated widespread occlusion of the superior sagittal sinus with multiple abnormal fistulous communications between abnormal arteries and arterialized veins. A portion of the lesion resembled a recanalized blood clot, in support of the theory proposed by others that dural AV fistulas are acquired lesions.

A variant of arteriovenous fistulas within the wall of dural sinuses. Results of combined surgical and endovascular therapy

1991 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanley L. Barnwell ◽  
Van V. Halbach ◽  
Christopher F. Dowd ◽  
Randall T. Higashida ◽  
Grant B. Hieshima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Venous Drainage ◽  
Venous Hypertension ◽  
Neurological Dysfunction ◽  
Dural Sinus ◽  
Unique Type ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Av Fistula ◽  
Arteriovenous Fistulas ◽  
Av Fistulas ◽  
Cortical Venous Drainage

✓ Dural arteriovenous (AV) fistulas are thought to be acquired lesions that form in an area of thrombosis within a sinus. If the sinus remains completely thrombosed, venous drainage from these lesions occurs through cortical veins, or, if the sinus is open, venous drainage is usually into the involved sinus. Among 105 patients with dural A V fistulas evaluated over the the past 5 years, seven had a unique type of dural AV fistula in the superior sagittal, transverse, or straight sinus in which only cortical venous drainage occurred despite a patent involved sinus; the fistula was located within the wall of a patent dural sinus, but outflow was not into the involved sinus. This variant of dural AV fistulas puts the patient at serious risk for hemorrhage or neurological dysfunction caused by venous hypertension. Three patients presented with hemorrhage, one with progressive neurological dysfunction, one with seizures, and two with bruit and headaches. A combination of surgical and endovascular techniques was used to close the fistula while preserving flow through the sinus.

Myelopathy due to intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas draining intrathecally into spinal medullary veins

1988 ◽  
Vol 69 (6) ◽  
pp. 934-939 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles J. Wrobel ◽  
Edward H. Oldfield ◽  
Giovanni Di Chiro ◽  
Edward C. Tarlov ◽  
Richard A. Baker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Venous Hypertension ◽  
External Carotid ◽  
Pathophysiological Mechanism ◽  
Partial Recovery ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Av Fistula ◽  
Progressive Myelopathy ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Av Fistulas

✓ Arteriovenous malformations (AVM's) of the spine commonly cause progressive myelopathy. Occasionally, myelography reveals serpentine filling defects characteristic of a spinal AVM, but an AVM or arteriovenous (AV) fistula cannot be demonstrated arteriographically, despite selective catheterization of all vessels known to have the potential of supplying the spinal cord and spinal dura. Often, and particularly in the setting of subacute or acute deterioration, this has been attributed to spontaneous thrombosis of the veins (the Foix-Alajouanine syndrome). Three patients are reported in whom intracranial dural AV fistulas, supplied by branches of the internal and external carotid arteries, drained into spinal veins and produced myelopathy. In one patient, motor and sensory deficits were limited to the lower extremities. In all three patients, disconnection of the fistula from its spinal venous drainage permitted arrest of a rapidly progressive myelopathy and partial recovery. These findings indicate that some patients who appear to have spinal cord AVM's but exhibit negative spinal arteriography are suffering from cranial dural AV fistulas and therefore need carotid as well as spinal arteriography. The considerable distance of these fistulas from the level of neurological expression supports venous hypertension as a pathophysiological mechanism of spinal cord injury. Interruption of a cranial dural fistula draining into spinal veins permits recovery of the myelopathy.

Artery of Davidoff and Schechter: A Large Angiographic Case Series of Dural AV Fistulas

2021 ◽  
pp. 194187442110222
Author(s):  
Neda Isabel Sedora Roman ◽  
Pavel Rodriguez ◽  
Hussein Nasser ◽  
Mougnyan Cox ◽  
Preethi Ramchand ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Posterior Fossa ◽  
Posterior Cerebral Artery ◽  
Vascular Malformations ◽  
Surgical Techniques ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Arteriovenous Fistulas ◽  
Medical Centers ◽  
Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas ◽  
Av Fistulas ◽  
Angiographic Examination

The artery of Davidoff and Schechter (ADS) is the only meningeal branch of the posterior cerebral artery (PCA), supplying the medial tentorial margin and posterior portions of the falx. Given its small size, it is rarely identified on angiographic studies, unless enlarged in pathologies such as dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) or vascularized masses. This artery was first described by Wollschlaeger and Wollschlaeger in 1965, and to date, only a few reports have described its significance. The objective of this study is to report our experience with the ADS in dural fistulas from 2 tertiary medical centers and to emphasize the importance of recognizing this artery during angiographic examination of vascular tentorial and posterior fossa lesions. To our knowledge, this report demonstrates the largest angiographic case series published to date, recognizing a total of 7 patients with ADS arising secondary to a posterior fossa or tentorial DAVF and one of the largest reported series of DAVFs supplied by the ADS treated by endovascular and surgical techniques. Our cases validate the importance of prompt identification of the ADS for the diagnosis as well as endovascular treatment of vascular malformations in the posterior fossa and tentorial region.

Percutaneous Superselective Coil-Embolization of Intrarenal Arteriovenous Fistulas

1996 ◽  
Vol 37 (3P2) ◽  
pp. 539-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Husstedt ◽  
A. Chavan ◽  
F. Ghadban ◽  
A. Leppert ◽  
M. Galanski
Keyword(s):  
Coil Embolization ◽  
Av Fistula ◽  
Arteriovenous Fistulas ◽  
Percutaneous Catheter ◽  
Coil Occlusion ◽  
Av Fistulas ◽  
Small Parts

Purpose: To evaluate the role of percutaneous transcatheter coil-occlusion in the management of uncontrollable postoperative hematuria due to iatrogenic arteriovenous (AV) fistula. Material and Methods: In 2 patients, AV fistulas were occluded with percutaneous catheter-guided superselective coil embolization. Results: In both cases, occlusion of the AV fistulas was successful. Only small parts (less than 10%) of the parenchyma had to be sacrificed. No hypertension occurred. Conclusion: Percutaneous coil embolization is a useful alternative to surgery in cases of postoperative AV fistulas. Hematuria can be effectively controlled without resulting hypertension.

scholarly journals Spinal epidural arteriovenous fistula embolization with ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) copolymer using the Scepter Mini dual-lumen balloon

2020 ◽  
pp. neurintsurg-2020-016395
Author(s):  
Frédéric Clarençon ◽  
Eimad Shotar ◽  
Arnaud Pouvelle ◽  
Kevin Premat ◽  
Stéphanie Lenck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vinyl Alcohol ◽  
Cord Compression ◽  
Embolic Agent ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol ◽  
Arteriovenous Fistulas ◽  
Low Profile ◽  
Liquid Embolic Agent ◽  
Av Fistulas ◽  
Spinal Epidural

Left unattended, spinal epidural arteriovenous fistulas (EAVFs) have a potentially severe clinical course. Embolization using ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) copolymers through regular dual-lumen balloons has emerged as a potential option for the treatment of spinal arteriovenous (AV) fistulas;1–3 the main issue with this technique is the navigability of these balloons. The Scepter Mini is a low-profile, dual-lumen balloon, which may be helpful for EVOH embolization of spinal AV fistulas, as it may help to overcome the navigation drawbacks. In this technical video, we present a case of EVOH embolization of a right T6 spinal EAVF through a Scepter Mini balloon. Of note, particular attention should be paid to radiculomedullary arteries arising at the same level or at adjacent levels to avoid severe neurologic complications related to uncontrolled migration of the liquid embolic agent. Moreover, excessive use of embolic material should be avoided to prevent spinal cord compression (video 1).Video 1

Results of combined stereotactic radiosurgery and transarterial embolization for dural arteriovenous fistulas of the transverse and sigmoid sinuses

2001 ◽  
Vol 94 (6) ◽  
pp. 886-891 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan A. Friedman ◽  
Bruce E. Pollock ◽  
Douglas A. Nichols ◽  
Deborah A. Gorman ◽  
Robert L. Foote ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stereotactic Radiosurgery ◽  
Transarterial Embolization ◽  
Symptom Relief ◽  
Related Complication ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Arteriovenous Fistulas ◽  
Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas ◽  
Lost To Follow Up ◽  
Fine Print

Object. Most dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) of the transverse and sigmoid sinuses do not have angiographically demonstrated features associated with intracranial hemorrhage and, therefore, may be treated nonsurgically. The authors report their experience using a staged combination of radiosurgery and transarterial embolization for treating DAVFs involving the transverse and sigmoid sinuses. Methods. Between 1991 and 1998, 25 patients with DAVFs of the transverse and/or sigmoid sinuses were treated using stereotactic radiosurgery; 22 of these patients also underwent transarterial embolization. Two patients were lost to follow-up review. Clinical data, angiographic findings, and follow-up records for the remaining 23 patients were collected prospectively. The mean duration of clinical follow up after radiosurgery was 50 months (range 20–99 months). The 18 women and five men included in this series had a mean age of 57 years (range 33–79 years). Twenty-two (96%) of 23 patients presented with pulsatile tinnitus as the primary symptom; two patients had experienced an earlier intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Cognard classifications of the DAVFs included the following: I in 12 patients (52%), IIa in seven patients (30%), and III in four patients (17%). After treatment, symptoms resolved (20 patients) or improved significantly (two patients) in 96% of patients. One patient was clinically unchanged. No patient sustained an ICH or irradiation-related complication during the follow-up period. Seventeen patients underwent follow-up angiographic studies at a mean of 21 months after radiosurgery (range 11–38 months). Total or near-total obliteration (> 90%) was seen in 11 patients (65%), and more than a 50% reduction in six patients (35%). Two patients experienced recurrent tinnitus and underwent repeated radiosurgery and embolization at 21 and 38 months, respectively, after the first procedure. Conclusions. A staged combination of radiosurgery and transarterial embolization provides excellent symptom relief and a good angiographically verified cure rate for patients harboring low-risk DAVFs of the transverse and sigmoid sinuses. This combined approach is a safe and effective treatment strategy for patients without angiographically determined risk factors for hemorrhage and for elderly patients with significant comorbidities.

Endovascular treatment of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas with spinal perimedullary venous drainage

1992 ◽  
Vol 77 (5) ◽  
pp. 718-723 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Pierre Gobin ◽  
Andre Rogopoulos ◽  
Armand Aymard ◽  
Mazen Khayata ◽  
Daniel Reizine ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endovascular Treatment ◽  
Endovascular Therapy ◽  
Sinus Thrombosis ◽  
Venous Drainage ◽  
Transverse Sinus ◽  
Venous Hypertension ◽  
Arterial Phase ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Arteriovenous Fistulas ◽  
Av Fistulas

✓ Intracranial dural arteriovenous (AV) fistulas with spinal perimedullary venous drainage are rare lesions that have distinctive clinical, radiological, and therapeutic aspects. Five patients presented with an ascending myelopathy, which extended to involve the brain stem in three cases. Myelography and magnetic resonance imaging showed slightly dilated spinal perimedullary vessels. Spinal angiograms were normal in the arterial phase. Diagnosis was only possible after cerebral angiography, which demonstrated posterior fossa AV fistulas fed by meningeal arteries and draining into spinal perimedullary veins. Endovascular treatment alone resulted in angiographic obliteration of the lesion in three patients. Two patients required surgery in addition to endovascular therapy. One patient died postoperatively, and in one a transient complication of embolization was observed. Improvement after treatment was good in two cases and fair in two. Transverse sinus thrombosis was observed in three cases and was probably the cause of the aberrant venous drainage of the fistula into the spinal perimedullary veins. The pathophysiology is related to spinal cord venous hypertension. These lesions were classified as Type 5 in the Djindjian and Merland classification of dural intracranial AV fistulas. Endovascular therapy is a safe effective method in the treatment of these fistulas and should be tried first.

Fatal progression of posttraumatic dural arteriovenous fistulas refractory to multimodal therapy

2001 ◽  
Vol 94 (5) ◽  
pp. 831-835 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan A. Friedman ◽  
Fredric B. Meyer ◽  
Douglas A. Nichols ◽  
Robert J. Coffey ◽  
L. Nelson Hopkins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multimodal Therapy ◽  
Transarterial Embolization ◽  
Subsequent Treatment ◽  
Venous Hypertension ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Arteriovenous Fistulas ◽  
Sagittal Sinus ◽  
Pulsatile Mass ◽  
Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas ◽  
Fine Print

✓ The authors report the case of a man who suffered from progressive, disseminated posttraumatic dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) resulting in death, despite aggressive endovascular, surgical, and radiosurgical treatment. This 31-year-old man was struck on the head while playing basketball. Two weeks later a soft, pulsatile mass developed at his vertex, and the man began to experience pulsatile tinnitus and progressive headaches. Magnetic resonance imaging and subsequent angiography revealed multiple AVFs in the scalp, calvaria, and dura, with drainage into the superior sagittal sinus. The patient was treated initially with transarterial embolization in five stages, followed by vertex craniotomy and surgical resection of the AVFs. However, multiple additional DAVFs developed over the bilateral convexities, the falx, and the tentorium. Subsequent treatment entailed 15 stages of transarterial embolization; seven stages of transvenous embolization, including complete occlusion of the sagittal sinus and partial occlusion of the straight sinus; three stages of stereotactic radiosurgery; and a second craniotomy with aggressive disconnection of the DAVFs. Unfortunately, the fistulas continued to progress, resulting in diffuse venous hypertension, multiple intracerebral hemorrhages in both hemispheres, and, ultimately, death nearly 5 years after the initial trauma. Endovascular, surgical, and radiosurgical treatments are successful in curing most patients with DAVFs. The failure of multimodal therapy and the fulminant progression and disseminated nature of this patient's disease are unique.

Spinal epidural arteriovenous fistula with perimedullary drainage

2006 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 353-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timo Krings ◽  
Michael Mull ◽  
Azize Bostroem ◽  
Juergen Otto ◽  
Franz J. Hans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Venous Congestion ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Rare Type ◽  
Arteriovenous Fistulas ◽  
Arteriovenous Shunts ◽  
Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas ◽  
Complete Obliteration ◽  
Spinal Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas ◽  
Spinal Epidural

✓ The classic angiographically demonstrated features of spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas are shunts of radiculomeningeal branches with radicular veins draining exclusively in the direction of perimedullary veins and thereby causing venous congestion. These shunts are located at the point where the radicular vein passes the dura mater. Spinal epidural arteriovenous shunts, however, normally do not drain into the perimedullary veins and are, therefore, asymptomatic, presumably because of a postulated reflux-impeding mechanism between the dural sleeves. The authors report on a patient in whom an epidural arteriovenous shunt showed delayed retrograde drainage into perimedullary veins, leading to the classic clinical (and magnetic resonance imaging–based) findings of venous congestion. Intraoperatively the angiographically established diagnosis was confirmed. Coagulation of both the epidural shunt zone and the radicular vein resulted in complete obliteration of the fistula, as confirmed on repeated angiography. This rare type of fistula should stimulate considerations on the role of valvelike mechanisms normally impeding retrograde flow from the epidural plexus to perimedullary veins and suggest that, in certain pathological circumstances, epidural fistulas can drain retrogradely into perimedullary veins as an infrequent variant of spinal arteriovenous shunts.

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