scholarly journals E-070 Curative treatment for low grade arteriovenous malformations

Author(s):  
A Wang ◽  
E Connolly ◽  
R Solomon ◽  
S Lavine ◽  
P Meyers
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur Wang ◽  
Grace K Mandigo ◽  
Neil A Feldstein ◽  
Michael B Sisti ◽  
E Sander Connolly ◽  
...  

BackgroundSpetzler-Martin (SM) grade I-II (low-grade) arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are often considered safe for microsurgery or radiosurgery. The adjunctive use of preoperative embolization to reduce surgical risk in these AVMs remains controversial.ObjectiveTo assess the safety of combined treatment of grade I-II AVMs with preoperative embolization followed by surgical resection or radiosurgery, and determine the long-term functional outcomes.MethodsWith institutional review board approval, a retrospective analysis was carried out on patients with ruptured and unruptured SM I-II AVMs between 2002 and 2017. Details of the endovascular procedures, including number of arteries supplying the AVM, number of branches embolized, embolic agent(s) used, and complications were studied. Baseline clinical and imaging characteristics were compared. Functional status using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) before and after endovascular and microsurgical treatments was compared.Results258 SM I-II AVMs (36% SM I, 64% SM II) were identified in patients with a mean age of 38 ± 17 years. 48% presented with hemorrhage, 21% with seizure, 16% with headache, 10% with no symptoms, and 5% with clinical deficits. 90 patients (68%) in the unruptured group and 74 patients (59%) in the ruptured group underwent presurgical embolization (p = 0.0013). The mean number of arteries supplying the AVM was 1.44 and 1.41 in the unruptured and ruptured groups, respectively (p = 0.75). The mean number of arteries embolized was 2.51 in the unruptured group and 1.82 in the ruptured group (p = 0.003). n-Butyl cyanoacrylate and Onyx were the two most commonly used embolic agents. Four complications were seen in four patients (4/164 patients embolized): two peri-/postprocedural hemorrhage, one dissection, and one infarct. All patients undergoing surgery had a complete cure on postoperative angiography. Patients were followed up for a mean of 55 months. Good long-term outcomes (mRS score ≤ 2) were seen in 92.5% of patients with unruptured AVMs and 88.0% of those with ruptured AVMs. Permanent neurological morbidity occurred in 1.2%.ConclusionsCurative treatment of SM I-II AVMs can be performed using endovascular embolization with microsurgical resection or radiosurgery in selected cases, with very low morbidity and high cure rates. Compared with other published series, these outcomes suggest that preoperative embolization is a safe and effective adjunct to definitive surgical treatment. Long-term follow-up showed that patients with low-grade AVMs undergoing surgical resection or radiosurgery have good functional outcomes.


2015 ◽  
Vol 122 (4) ◽  
pp. 912-920 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew B. Potts ◽  
Darryl Lau ◽  
Adib A. Abla ◽  
Helen Kim ◽  
William L. Young ◽  
...  

OBJECT Resection is an appealing therapy for brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) because of its high cure rate, low complication rate, and immediacy, and has become the first-line therapy for many AVMs. To clarify safety, efficacy, and outcomes associated with AVM resection in the aftermath of A Randomized Trial of Unruptured Brain AVMs (ARUBA), the authors reviewed their experience with low-grade AVMs—the most favorable AVMs for surgery and the ones most likely to have been selected for treatment outside of ARUBA's randomization process. METHODS A prospective AVM registry was searched to identify patients with Spetzler-Martin Grade I and II AVMs treated using resection during a 16-year period. RESULTS Of the 232 surgical patients included, 120 (52%) presented with hemorrhage, 33% had Spetzler-Martin Grade I, and 67% had Grade II AVMs. Overall, 99 patients (43%) underwent preoperative embolization, with unruptured AVMs embolized more often than ruptured AVMs. AVM resection was accomplished in all patients and confirmed angiographically in 218 patients (94%). There were no deaths among patients with unruptured AVMs. Good outcomes (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score 0–1) were found in 78% of patients, with 97% improved or unchanged from their preoperative mRS scores. Patients with unruptured AVMs had better functional outcomes (91% good outcome vs 65% in the ruptured group, p = 0.0008), while relative outcomes were equivalent (98% improved/unchanged in patients with ruptured AVMs vs 96% in patients with unruptured AVMs). CONCLUSIONS Surgery should be regarded as the “gold standard” therapy for the majority of low-grade AVMs, utilizing conservative embolization as a preoperative adjunct. High surgical cure rates and excellent functional outcomes in patients with both ruptured and unruptured AVMs support a dominant surgical posture for low-grade AVMS, with radiosurgery reserved for risky AVMs in deep, inaccessible, and highly eloquent locations. Despite the technological advances in endovascular and radiosurgical therapy, surgery still offers the best cure rate, lowest risk profile, and greatest protection against hemorrhage for low-grade AVMs. ARUBA results are influenced by a low randomization rate, bias toward nonsurgical therapies, a shortage of surgical expertise, a lower rate of complete AVM obliteration, a higher rate of delayed hemorrhage, and short study duration. Another randomized trial is needed to reestablish the role of surgery in unruptured AVM management.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Rajeev D. Sen ◽  
Isaac Josh Abecassis ◽  
Jason Barber ◽  
Michael R. Levitt ◽  
Louis J. Kim ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE Brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs) most commonly present with rupture and intraparenchymal hemorrhage. In rare cases, the hemorrhage is large enough to cause clinical herniation or intractable intracranial hypertension. Patients in these cases require emergent surgical decompression as a life-saving measure. The surgeon must decide whether to perform concurrent or delayed resection of the bAVM. Theoretical benefits to concurrent resection include a favorable operative corridor created by the hematoma, avoiding a second surgery, and more rapid recovery and rehabilitation. The objective of this study was to compare the clinical and surgical outcomes of patients who had undergone concurrent emergent decompression and bAVM resection with those of patients who had undergone delayed bAVM resection. METHODS The authors conducted a 15-year retrospective review of consecutive patients who had undergone microsurgical resection of a ruptured bAVM at their institution. Patients presenting in clinical herniation or with intractable intracranial hypertension were included and grouped according to the timing of bAVM resection: concurrent with decompression (hyperacute group) or separate resection surgery after decompression (delayed group). Demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded. Groups were compared in terms of the primary outcomes of hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) lengths of stay (LOSs). Secondary outcomes included complete obliteration (CO), Glasgow Coma Scale score, and modified Rankin Scale score at discharge and at the most recent follow-up. RESULTS A total of 35/269 reviewed patients met study inclusion criteria; 18 underwent concurrent decompression and resection (hyperacute group) and 17 patients underwent emergent decompression only with later resection of the bAVM (delayed group). Hyperacute and delayed groups differed only in the proportion that underwent preresection endovascular embolization (16.7% vs 76.5%, respectively; p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the hyperacute and delayed groups in hospital LOS (26.1 vs 33.2 days, respectively; p = 0.93) or ICU LOS (10.6 vs 16.1 days, respectively; p = 0.69). Rates of CO were also comparable (78% vs 88%, respectively; p > 0.99). Medical complications were similar in the two groups (33% hyperacute vs 41% delayed, p > 0.99). Short-term clinical outcomes were better for the delayed group based on mRS score at discharge (4.2 vs 3.2, p < 0.05); however, long-term outcomes were similar between the groups. CONCLUSIONS Ruptured bAVM rarely presents in clinical herniation requiring surgical decompression and hematoma evacuation. Concurrent surgical decompression and resection of a ruptured bAVM can be performed on low-grade lesions without compromising LOS or long-term functional outcome; however, the surgeon may encounter a more challenging surgical environment.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Mark Bigder ◽  
Omar Choudhri ◽  
Mihir Gupta ◽  
Santosh Gummidipundi ◽  
Summer S. Han ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE Microsurgical resection of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) can be aided by staged treatment consisting of stereotactic radiosurgery followed by resection in a delayed fashion. This approach is particularly useful for high Spetzler-Martin (SM) grade lesions because radiosurgery can reduce flow through the AVM, downgrade the SM rating, and induce histopathological changes that additively render the AVM more manageable for resection. The authors present their 28-year experience in managing AVMs with adjunctive radiosurgery followed by resection. METHODS The authors retrospectively reviewed records of patients treated for cerebral AVMs at their institution between January 1990 and August 2019. All patients who underwent stereotactic radiosurgery (with or without embolization), followed by resection, were included in the study. Of 1245 patients, 95 met the eligibility criteria. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to assess relationships between key variables and clinical outcomes. RESULTS The majority of lesions treated (53.9%) were high grade (SM grade IV–V), 31.5% were intermediate (SM grade III), and 16.6% were low grade (SM grade I–II). Hemorrhage was the initial presenting sign in half of all patients (49.5%). Complete resection was achieved among 84% of patients, whereas 16% had partial resection, the majority of whom received additional radiosurgery. Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores of 0–2 were achieved in 79.8% of patients, and 20.2% had poor (mRS scores 3–6) outcomes. Improved (44.8%) or stable (19%) mRS scores were observed among 63.8% of patients, whereas 36.2% had a decline in mRS scores. This includes 22 patients (23.4%) with AVM hemorrhage and 6 deaths (6.7%) outside the perioperative period but prior to AVM obliteration. CONCLUSIONS Stereotactic radiosurgery is a useful adjunct in the presurgical management of cerebral AVMs. Multimodal therapy allowed for high rates of AVM obliteration and acceptable morbidity rates, despite the predominance of high-grade lesions in this series of patients.


Neurosurgery ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 401-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael N. Bucci ◽  
William F. Chandler ◽  
Stephen S. Gebarski ◽  
Paul E. McKeever

Abstract Thrombosed arteriovenous malformations initially diagnosed as low-grade gliomas in a child and her maternal uncle are presented. In both patients, there was progression of the disease as evidenced by the formation of new lesions at distant sites in the brain.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 77 (6) ◽  
pp. 948-953 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karam Moon ◽  
Michael R. Levitt ◽  
Rami O. Almefty ◽  
Peter Nakaji ◽  
Felipe C. Albuquerque ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have questioned the utility of surgical resection of unruptured brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs). OBJECTIVE: We performed an assessment of outcomes and complications of surgical resection of low-grade bAVMs (Spetzler-Martin grade I or II) at a single high-volume neurosurgical center. METHODS: We reviewed all unruptured low-grade bAVMs treated with surgery (with or without preoperative embolization) between January 2004 and January 2014. Stroke rate, mortality, and clinical and radiographic outcomes were examined. RESULTS: Of 95 patients treated surgically, 85 (25 grade I, 60 grade II) met inclusion criteria, and all achieved radiographic cure postoperatively. Ten patients (11.8%) were lost to follow-up; the mean follow-up of the remaining 85 was 3.3 years. Three patients (3.5%) with grade II bAVMs experienced a stroke; no patients died. Although 20 patients (23.5%) had temporary postoperative neurological deficit, only 3 (3.5%) had new clinical impairment (modified Rankin Scale score ≥2) at last follow-up. Eight of the 13 patients (61.5%) with preexisting clinical impairment had improved modified Rankin Scale scores of 0 or 1; and 17 of 30 patients (56.7%) with preoperative seizures were seizure-free without antiepileptic medication postoperatively. No significant differences existed in stroke rate or clinical outcome between grades I and II patients at follow-up (Fisher exact test, P = .55 and P &gt; .99, respectively). CONCLUSION: Surgical resection of low-grade unruptured bAVMs is safe, with a high rate of improvement in functional status and seizure reduction. Although transient postoperative neurological deficit was observed in some patients, permanent treatment-related neurological morbidity was rare.


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (11) ◽  
pp. 4916-4923 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederic Mercier ◽  
Guedj Jeremie ◽  
Mohammad Alyami ◽  
Vaudoyer Delphine ◽  
Kepenekian Vahan ◽  
...  

Neurosurgery ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 832-839 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Kerin Morgan ◽  
Andrew Michael Rochford ◽  
Antonio Tsahtsarlis ◽  
Nicholas Little ◽  
Kenneth Charles Faulder

Abstract OBJECTIVE Grade I and II arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) have been considered safe to resect. However, unoperated low-grade AVMs have not been considered in previously reported series. The aim of this study was to examine all cases, both operated and unoperated, to identify any characteristics of low-grade AVMs that comprise a subgroup that might pose a relatively higher risk. METHODS A prospectively enrolled AVM database included 237 patients in Spetzler-Martin Grade I or II. These patients were analyzed on the basis of demographic characteristics, angiographic and magnetic resonance imaging features, clinical presentation, method of treatment, and outcome. RESULTS Surgery was performed in 220 patients in Spetzler-Martin Grade I or II. Seventeen patients did not undergo treatment because of poor neurological condition (six patients), patient refusal (nine patients), and perceived surgical difficulty (AVM size approaching 3 cm adjacent to Broca's area) (two patients). The overall surgical morbidity rate was 0.9%, and the mortality rate was 0.5%. Adverse outcomes occurred in 1 (0.6%) of 180 patients with AVMs located away from eloquent cortex and in 2 (5%) of 40 patients with AVMs adjacent to eloquent cortex. None of 28 surgical patients with deep venous drainage had an adverse outcome. All 219 patients who survived surgery underwent postoperative angiography that confirmed cure. No postoperative hemorrhage has occurred in 1143 patient-years of follow-up (mean follow-up, 5.3 yr). CONCLUSION When considering adverse outcome in the surgical series of Grade I and II AVMs alone, no statistical difference between non-eloquently located AVMs (0.6%) and eloquently located AVMs (5% adverse outcome) can be detected. However, consideration of all Grade I and II AVMs, both surgical and nonsurgical, may prove that a difference in outcome exists between these two groups masked by case selection. Generalization of the chances of adverse outcomes to all Grade I and II AVMs (both operated and unoperated) suggests that the risk of performing surgery on noneloquent brain in our series was 0.6% and that in eloquent brain could have been as high as 9.5%, had all such patients undergone surgery.


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