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Endovascular management of dural arteriovenous fistulas of the transverse and sigmoid sinus in 150 patients

  • Interventional Neuroradiology
  • Published:
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Abstract

Introduction

This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficiency of the endovascular treatment of transverse–sigmoid sinus dural arteriovenous fistulas (TS_dAVF).

Methods

A total of 150 consecutive patients and 348 procedures were evaluated.

Results

Pulsatile tinnitus (81%), headache (15%), and intracranial hemorrhage (10%) were the most frequent manifestations of the TS_dAVFs. More than half of the affected sinuses were partially or completely thrombosed. Access-wise treatment was performed transarterial (n = 33), transvenous (n = 21), or a combination thereof (n = 96). A mean of 2.4 procedures per patient was required. Immediate postprocedural occlusion rate after transarterial embolization was 30% only. Transvenous treatment alone resulted in an early occlusion rate of 81%, with delayed complete obliteration of half of the remaining fistulas. After combined transarterial/transvenous treatment, the angiographic cure rate was 54%. At follow-up, 88% of patients with residual shunt after the treatment showed complete occlusion. The cumulative complication rate was 9% (n = 13), with minor adverse events in ten patients (7%) and major complications in three patients (2%).

Conclusion

Transvenous coil occlusion of the sinus segment with the adjacent dAVF site, eventually combined with transarterial occlusion of supplying arteries, is a very effective and well-tolerated treatment method. In selected patients, variations of these methods (e.g., sinus stenting, compartmental sinus occlusion) can be useful.

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We declare that we have no conflict of interest.

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Correspondence to H. Henkes.

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D. Kühne: retired.

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Kirsch, M., Liebig, T., Kühne, D. et al. Endovascular management of dural arteriovenous fistulas of the transverse and sigmoid sinus in 150 patients. Neuroradiology 51, 477–483 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-009-0524-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-009-0524-9

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