Endovascular Advances for Brain Arteriovenous Malformations

Neurosurgery ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 74 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S74-S82 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Webster Crowley ◽  
Andrew F. Ducruet ◽  
Cameron G. McDougall ◽  
Felipe C. Albuquerque
Keyword(s):  
Endovascular Treatment ◽  
Surgical Resection ◽  
Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Brain Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Cerebral Avms ◽  
Brain Avms ◽  
The Brain ◽  
The Way

Abstract Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of the brain represent unique challenges for treating physicians. Although these lesions have traditionally been treated with surgical resection alone, advancements in endovascular and radiosurgical therapies have greatly expanded the treatment options for patients harboring brain AVMs. Perhaps no subspecialty within neurosurgery has seen as many advancements over a relatively short period of time as the endovascular field. A number of these endovascular innovations have been designed primarily for cerebral AVMs, and even those advancements that are not particular to AVMs have resulted in substantial changes to the way cerebral AVMs are treated. These advancements have enabled the embolization of cerebral AVMs to be performed either as a stand-alone treatment, or in conjunction with surgery or radiosurgery. Perhaps nothing has impacted the treatment of brain AVMs as substantially as the development of liquid embolics, most notably Onyx and n-butyl cyanoacrylate. However, of near-equal impact has been the innovations seen in the catheters that help deliver the liquid embolics to the AVMs. These developments include flow-directed catheters, balloon-tipped catheters, detachable-tipped catheters, and distal access catheters. This article aims to review some of the more substantial advancements in the endovascular treatment of brain AVMs and to discuss the literature surrounding the expanding indications for endovascular treatment of these lesions.

Overview of the current concepts in the management of arteriovenous malformations of the brain

2020 ◽  
Vol 96 (1134) ◽  
pp. 212-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
AKA Unnithan
Keyword(s):  
Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Randomised Trial ◽  
Surgical Techniques ◽  
Venous Drainage ◽  
Interventional Therapy ◽  
Brain Avms ◽  
Endothelial Growth Factor ◽  
The Brain

BackgroundThere is a lack of consensus in the management of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of the brain since ARUBA (A Randomised trial of Unruptured Brain Arteriovenous malformations) trial showed that medical management is superior to interventional therapy in patients with unruptured brain AVMs. The treatment of brain AVM is associated with significant morbidity.Objectives and methodsA review was done to determine the behaviour of brain AVMs and analyse the risks and benefits of the available treatment options. A search was done in the literature for studies on brain AVMs. Descriptive analysis was also done.ResultsThe angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor and inflammatory cytokines are involved in the growth of AVMs. Proteinases such as matrix metalloproteinase-9 contribute to the weakening and rupture of the nidus. The risk factors for haemorrhage are prior haemorrhage, deep and infratentorial AVM location, exclusive deep venous drainage and associated aneurysms. The advancements in operating microscope and surgical techniques have facilitated microsurgery. Stereotactic radiosurgery causes progressive vessel obliteration over 2–3 years. Endovascular embolisation can be done prior to microsurgery or radiosurgery and for palliation.ConclusionsSpetzler-Martin grades I and II have low surgical risks. The AVMs located in the cerebellum, subarachnoid cisterns and pial surfaces of the brainstem can be treated surgically. Radiosurgery is preferable for deep-seated AVMs. A combination of microsurgery, embolisation and radiosurgery is recommended for deep-seated and Spetzler-Martin grade III AVMs. Observation is recommended for grades IV and V.

Curative endovascular treatment for low-grade Spetzler-Martin brain arteriovenous malformations: a single-center prospective study

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 699-705 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Iosif ◽  
Adson Freitas de Lucena ◽  
Luiz Gustavo Abreu-Mattos ◽  
Victor Hugo Espindola Ala ◽  
Amin El-Ghanam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endovascular Treatment ◽  
Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Venous Access ◽  
Clinical Results ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Complication Rates ◽  
Single Center ◽  
Brain Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Complete Obliteration ◽  
Brain Avms

BackgroundThe treatment of low grade Spetzler-Martin (SM) brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) has been debated in unruptured cases. Nevertheless, in clinical practice there are cases where treatment is preferred; in these cases a very low complication rate is mandatory. In ruptured cases, early and complete obliteration of the nidus is the preferred strategy.ObjectiveTo achieve curative embolization, ideally in a single session, by dual microcatheterization techniques with arterial and/or venous access, according to the angioarchitecture.Materials and methodsThis is a prospective, single-center study carried out between January 2008 and January 2016. Patients with ruptured and unruptured brain AVMs, with SM grades I and II, treated by endovascular means, were included. Demographics, clinical presentation, angioarchitecture, and procedure-related complications were analyzed. Angiographic and clinical results were reported.ResultsSeventy-three patients, aged 40.5±17.8 years, were included. More than 60% of the patients presented with ruptured AVMs. Initial SM grades were I for 22% and II for 78% of the patients. Preprocedural modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score was 0–2 for 53 (72.6%), 3 for 12 (16.4%), 4 for 5 (6.8%) and 5 for 3 (4.1%) patients. Procedure-related morbidity was 2.7% and procedure-related mortality was 0%. Ninety percent (90.5%) of the patients were independent in their everyday lives (mRS score 0–2) at 6 months. In all but one case (95%) the embolization was curative.ConclusionStand-alone endovascular treatment for SM grade I and II brain AVMs seems safe and effective, allowing for complete obliteration of the nidus, with low complication rates. A study of larger cohorts is needed.

scholarly journals Brain Arteriovenous Malformations and Endovascular Treatment: Effect on Seizures

2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. Lv ◽  
Y. Li ◽  
C. Jiang ◽  
X. Yang ◽  
Z. Wu
Keyword(s):  
Endovascular Treatment ◽  
Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Seizure Control ◽  
Neurovascular Unit ◽  
Clinical History ◽  
Endovascular Embolization ◽  
Seizure Type ◽  
Brain Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Brain Avms

We report our experience in treating patients with seizures associated with brain arteriovenous malformations (AVM) without a clinical history of intracranial hemorrhage. Between 2001 and 2003, the neurovascular unit at Beijing Tiantan Hospital treated 109 patients with brain AVM endovascularly. Thirty patients (27.5%) experienced seizures before treatment. We studied the following factors: sex, age, AVM size, AVM location, seizure type, duration of seizure history, endovascular treatment and AVM obliteration. Clinical follow-up was via telephone interview. Thirty patients with seizure disorders due to brain AVMs were endovascularly treated. The age of the patients ranged from eight to 55 years. There were 22 males and eight females. The AVMs were smaller than 3 cm in five patients, between 3 cm and 6 cm in 22, and larger than 6 cm in three. The most frequent location of the AVMs was in the frontal, followed by the parietal, temporal and occipital lobes. Sixty-seven embolization procedures were performed and total obliteration was achieved in four patients. Two patients developed a hemiparesis and three suffered temporary dysphasia after embolization. Two patients had visual field deficits. There were no deaths. The results of post-embolization seizure control during the average follow-up period of 80 months were excellent in 21 patients, good in four, fair in two and poor in three. Successful seizure control can be obtained with endovascular embolization.

Characteristics of Brain Arteriovenous Malformations Presenting with Seizures without Acute or Remote Hemorrhage

2011 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 886-888 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Jiang ◽  
X. Lv ◽  
Z. Wu ◽  
Y. Li ◽  
C. Jiang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endovascular Treatment ◽  
Posterior Fossa ◽  
Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Venous Drainage ◽  
Brain Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Male Sex

We report on the predictors of seizure presention in unruptured brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Between 1999 and 2008, 302 consecutive patients with AVMs were referred to our institution for endovascular treatment. Seventy-four patients (24.5%) experienced seizures without hemorrhage before treatment. We tested for statistical associations between angioarchitectural characteristics and seizure presentation. When we compared the 74 patients with seizures without hemorrhage with the 228 patients who did not experience seizures initially (total of 302 patients), male sex, cortical AVM location, AVM size of more than 3 cm, superficial venous drainage and presence of varices in the venous drainage were statistically associated with seizures (P=0.016, P=0.002, P=0.022, P=0.005, and P=0.022, respectively). Posterior fossa and deep locations and coexisting aneurysms were statistically associated with no seizures. The angioarchitectural characteristics of AVM associated with seizure presentation include male sex, cortical AVM location, AVM size of more than 3 cm, superficial venous drainage and presence of varices in the venous drainage.

scholarly journals Prevalence and characteristics of brain arteriovenous malformations in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 127 (2) ◽  
pp. 302-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Waleed Brinjikji ◽  
Vivek N. Iyer ◽  
Christopher P. Wood ◽  
Giuseppe Lanzino
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia ◽  
Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Clinical Presentation ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Prevalence Rates ◽  
Brain Avm ◽  
Martin Grade ◽  
Cerebral Avms ◽  
Brain Avms

OBJECTIVEPatients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) are known to suffer from high rates of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). The authors performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature examining prevalence rates, characteristics, and clinical presentation of cerebral AVMs in the HHT population.METHODSTo identify studies on AVM prevalence and characteristics in the HHT population, 4 databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus and Web of Science) were searched by a reference librarian with over 30 years experience in systematic reviews and meta-analysis. The search period was January 1, 1990–March 2016. The following search terms were used: hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome, AVM, brain AVM, arteriovenous malformation, arteriovenous fistula, prevalence, and epidemiology. The authors identified studies that examined the prevalence rates, characteristics, and clinical presentation of cerebral AVMs in patients with HHT. They assessed overall AVM prevalence rates as well as prevalence rates by age, sex, HHT type, and country/region. They also systematically reviewed the characteristics of AVMs, including rupture status, location, clinical presentation, angioarchitecture, and Spetzler-Martin grade. Data were analyzed using a random-effects meta-analysis model.RESULTSThirty-nine studies were included in this meta-analysis. Thirty studies examined brain AVM prevalence rates in various HHT patient populations, and 18 studies examined AVM clinical and angiographic characteristics (9 studies examined both prevalence rates and AVM characteristics). The prevalence of brain AVMs in HHT patients was 10.4% (95% CI 7.9%–13.0%) with no significant difference between males (8.5%, 95% CI 4.9%–12.0%) and females (11.0%, 95% CI 5.9%–16.1%). Patients with HHT Type 1 (HHT1) had a significantly higher brain AVM prevalence (13.4%, 95% CI 9.5%–17.4%) compared with those with HHT Type 2 (HHT2) (2.4%, 95% CI 1.0%–3.8%) (p < 0.0001). In 55.2% (95% CI 38.3%–72.1%) of cases, the AVMs were symptomatic. Spetzler-Martin grade was 2 or less in 86.9% (95% CI 67.5%–95.2%) of patients.CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of brain AVMs in the HHT population is about 10%. HHT1 patients are significantly more likely to have brain AVMs than HHT2 patients. Most AVMs in the HHT population are symptomatic. The Spetzler-Martin grade for these lesions is 2 or less in nearly 90% of patients.

Staged Surgical Resection of Brain Arteriovenous Malformations

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric S. Sussman ◽  
Santosh E. Gummidipundi ◽  
Arjun V. Pendharkar ◽  
Ephraim W. Church ◽  
Allen L. Ho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surgical Resection ◽  
Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Brain Arteriovenous Malformations

scholarly journals An Update on Medications for Brain Arteriovenous Malformations

Neurosurgery ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 87 (5) ◽  
pp. 871-878
Author(s):  
Daniel M S Raper ◽  
Ethan A Winkler ◽  
W Caleb Rutledge ◽  
Daniel L Cooke ◽  
Adib A Abla
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Vascular Endothelial ◽  
Brain Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Disease States ◽  
Current State ◽  
Endothelial Growth Factor

Abstract Despite a variety of treatment options for brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs), many lesions remain challenging to treat and present significant ongoing risk for hemorrhage. In Vitro investigations have recently led to a greater understanding of the formation, growth, and rupture of bAVMs. This has, in turn, led to the development of therapeutic targets for medications for bAVMs, some of which have begun testing in clinical trials in humans. These include bevacizumab, targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor driven angiogenic pathway; thalidomide or lenalidomide, targeting blood-brain barrier impairment; and doxycycline, targeting matrix metalloproteinase overexpression. A variety of other medications appear promising but either requires adaptation from other disease states or development from early bench studies into the clinical realm. This review aims to provide an overview of the current state of development of medications targeting bAVMs and to highlight their likely applications in the future.

Brain arteriovenous malformations

Neurology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 95 (20) ◽  
pp. 917-927 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ching-Jen Chen ◽  
Dale Ding ◽  
Colin P. Derdeyn ◽  
Giuseppe Lanzino ◽  
Robert M. Friedlander ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Minimally Invasive ◽  
Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Cerebral Arteries ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Latency Period ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Brain Arteriovenous Malformations ◽  
Risk Of Hemorrhage ◽  
Brain Avms

Brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are anomalous direct shunts between cerebral arteries and veins that convalesce into a vascular nidus. The treatment strategies for AVMs are challenging and variable. Intracranial hemorrhage and seizures comprise the most common presentations of AVMs. However, incidental AVMs are being diagnosed with increasing frequency due to widespread use of noninvasive neuroimaging. The balance between the estimated cumulative lifetime hemorrhage risk vs the risk of intervention is often the major determinant for treatment. Current management options include surgical resection, embolization, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), and observation. Complete nidal obliteration is the goal of AVM intervention. The risks and benefits of interventions vary and can be used in a combinatorial fashion. Resection of the AVM nidus affords high rates of immediate obliteration, but it is invasive and carries a moderate risk of neurologic morbidity. AVM embolization is minimally invasive, but cure can only be achieved in a minority of lesions. SRS is also minimally invasive and has little immediate morbidity, but AVM obliteration occurs in a delayed fashion, so the patient remains at risk of hemorrhage during the latency period. Whether obliteration can be achieved in unruptured AVMs with a lower risk of stroke or death compared with the natural history of AVMs remains controversial. Over the past 5 years, multicenter prospective and retrospective studies describing AVM natural history and treatment outcomes have been published. This review provides a contemporary and comprehensive discussion of the natural history, pathobiology, and interventions for brain AVMs.

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