Giant intracranial varices secondary to high-flow arteriovenous fistulae

1987 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 198-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando ViñUela ◽  
Charles G. Drake ◽  
Allan J. Fox ◽  
David M. Pelz

✓ An intracranial varix is rare and has been associated mostly with vein of Galen fistulae or arteriovenous (AV) malformations. The authors present eight cases of intracranial, pial or subpial AV fistulae with concomitant giant varices. Six were supratentorial and two were infratentorial. Only one case involved the vein of Galen. In six cases successful surgical and/or endovascular occlusion of the intracranial AV fistula was obtained, and one case was treated conservatively. Staging of surgery and postoperative hypotension were considered to be important in avoiding edema and hemorrhage following obliteration of a large AV shunt. One patient died from delayed postoperative intracerebral bleeding.

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 731-735 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Parker Mickle ◽  
Ronald G. Quisling

✓ Vein of Galen malformations are a diverse group of deeply located high-flow vascular lesions that are difficult to eradicate with standard surgical techniques. New nonsurgical interventional techniques offer encouraging results as alternative therapeutic choices in these complicated vascular shunts. Use of a new procedure of transtorcular embolization with Gianturco embolic coils is described in three patients harboring vein of Galen aneurysms. Two of the three patients had a satisfactory outcome. This technique is simple and quick, and can produce progressive thrombosis in these high-flow vascular fistulas.


1980 ◽  
Vol 53 (5) ◽  
pp. 703-706 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose Andres Alvarez-Garijo ◽  
Manuel Vila Mengual ◽  
Dario Taboada Gomila ◽  
Adela Alonso Martin

✓ A giant arteriovenous fistula in a newborn infant was treated by surgical occlusion of the feeding vessels at 20 days of life. Congestive heart failure responded favorably to operative treatment. Because of persistent hydrocephalus, a shunt was inserted at 2 months of age. At 9 months of age, the child remained without signs of cardiac failure. Cerebral damage was manifested by a mild left hemiparesis. Successful surgical treatment of this unusual lesion in a neonate is exceptional.


2005 ◽  
Vol 102 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Motoshi Sawada ◽  
Yasuhiko Kaku ◽  
Shinichi Yoshimura ◽  
Masahiro Kawaguchi ◽  
Takashi Matsuhisa ◽  
...  

✓ Occlusion of the parent artery is a traditional method of treatment of unclippable cerebral aneurysms. Surgical or endovascular occlusion of the parent artery proximal to the aneurysm has been recommended for the treatment of dissecting aneurysms located in the vertebrobasilar circulation. Nevertheless, occlusion of the parent artery may not result in permanent exclusion of the aneurysm from the systemic circulation because, occasionally, postoperative rebleeding occurs after proximal occlusion. Alternatively, endovascular occlusion of the affected site, including the aneurysmal dilation, and parent artery, is a safe and reliable treatment for dissecting aneurysms. The authors present two rare cases of ruptured vertebral artery (VA) dissecting aneurysms that were treated by endovascular occlusion of the affected site including the aneurysm and parent artery by using Guglielmi detachable coils. In both cases the VA recanalized in an antegrade fashion during the follow-up period. Based on these unique cases, the authors suggest that a careful angiographic follow up of dissecting aneurysms is required, even in patients successfully treated with endovascular occlusion of the affected artery and aneurysm.


1999 ◽  
Vol 90 (5) ◽  
pp. 928-934 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel M. Lieberman ◽  
Marc-Etienne Corthesy ◽  
Alex Cummins ◽  
Edward H. Oldfield

Object. Symptoms from Parkinson's disease improve after surgical ablation of the medial globus pallidus (GPm). Although, in theory, selective chemical ablation of neurons in the GPm could preserve vital structures jeopardized by surgery, the potential of this approach is limited when using traditional techniques of drug delivery. The authors examined the feasibility of convection-enhanced distribution of a neurotoxin by high-flow microinfusion to ablate the neurons of the GPm selectively and reverse experimental Parkinson's disease (akinesia, tremor, and rigidity).Methods. Initially, to test the feasibility of this approach, the GPms of two naive rhesus macaques were infused with kainic acid or ibotenic acid through two cannulas that had been placed using the magnetic resonance imaging—guided stereotactic technique. Two weeks later the animals were killed and their brains were examined histologically to determine the presence of neurons in the GPm and the integrity of the optic tract and the internal capsule. To examine the therapeutic potential of this paradigm, unilateral experimental Parkinson's disease was induced in six macaques by intracarotid infusion of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and their behavior was studied for 12 weeks after chemopallidotomy was performed using kainic acid (three animals) or control infusion (three animals).Conclusions. Chemopallidotomy using kainic acid permanently reversed the stigmata of MPTP-induced parkinsonism. By contrast, the control animals exhibited a transient recovery following intrapallidal infusion and then relapsed back to their baseline state. The use of high-flow microinfusion of selectively active toxins has the potential for treatment of Parkinson's disease and, by expanding the range of approachable targets to include large nuclei, for broad applications in clinical and experimental neuroscience.


1994 ◽  
Vol 80 (4) ◽  
pp. 606-616 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean Mullan

✓ Evidence is presented that dural fistulae are preceded by sinus thrombosis and that their danger lies in arterialized venous pressure within the cranium or the orbit. Arterial side occlusion leads to recurrence, while venous side occlusion leads to permanent cure. Vein of Galen aneurysms embrace some features of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVM's), namely a reticulum, and some features of dural fistulae, namely evidence of previous sinus anomaly and direct drainage into a sinus. These aneurysms are also permanently cured by venous side thrombosis, although the dangers inherent in their reticulum demand that this be done in stages or preceded by arterial side embolization. A very limited experience with venous end occlusion of cerebral (and spinal) AVM's suggests that they, too, can be permanently cured by venous side occlusion without excision. Their reticulum demands maximum, multistage, preliminary arterial side embolization together with intraoperative hypotension during the venous occlusion stage in order to minimize intracerebral hemorrhage or swelling. Schematic models of both fistulae and malformations are presented, together with reasons why particulate embolization is safer than glue embolization. The theory is advanced that dural fistulae, vein of Galen aneurysms, and AVM's are venous- rather than arterial-based lesions, which is consistent with the experience that permanent cure has been effected by venous side occlusion without excision in all three anomalies. It is speculated that there may be a developmental link between AVM and the venous malformation, the AVM being essentially a fistulized venous malformation.


1992 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 137-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francis H. Tomlinson ◽  
David G. Piepgras ◽  
Douglas A. Nichols ◽  
Daniel A. Rüfenacht ◽  
Sue C. Kaste

✓ A neonate presented with anatomically discrete cerebral arteriovenous fistulae located in the right sylvian fissure and the cerebellar vermis that were initially detected by prenatal ultrasonography. Following delivery of the baby by Caesarean section, both malformations were treated by surgical obliteration. These intracranial vascular lesions were associated with cardiac anomalies and a periductal coarctation of the aorta, which was treated with a left subclavian rotational arterial pedicle repair. Follow-up examination of the infant at age 13 months demonstrated an excellent clinical result with normalization of the circulation. The pathophysiology of this syndrome is discussed and the literature reviewed.


1976 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jefferson Browder ◽  
Harry A. Kaplan ◽  
Abbott J. Krieger

✓ The authors report a variety of arrangements of the venous channels comprising the straight sinus (sinus rectus) and its connections during a continuing study of the cerebral sinuses and their tributaries. In approximately 85% of 131 specimens of dura mater with enclosed venous sinuses derived from fresh cadavers, the straight sinus was represented by a single midline tentorial channel whereas in the remaining 15%, segments of it were doubled and in a few, tripled. In addition to these aberrations in the development of the main trunk of this sinus, the venous patterns at the junctions of the inferior sagittal sinus, vein of Galen and straight sinus showed comparable developmental inconstancies. Also in no specimens were the patterns of venous channels in the leaves of the tentorium cerebelli alike. The course, size, and connections of all the tributaries of the straight sinus have been studied and consideration given to their potentials as collateral pathways in the event either the vein of Galen or the straight sinus itself were occluded.


1999 ◽  
Vol 90 (5) ◽  
pp. 853-856 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ikuya Yamaura ◽  
Eiichi Tani ◽  
Masayuki Yokota ◽  
Atsuhisa Nakano ◽  
Masahiro Fukami ◽  
...  

Object. Surgical or endovascular occlusion of the parent artery proximal to an aneurysm has been recommended for treatment of dissecting aneurysms of the intracranial posterior circulation. However, dissecting aneurysms may rupture even after proximal occlusion because distal progression of thrombus is necessary to occlude the dissecting aneurysm completely, and this may be delayed by the presence of retrograde flow. In this article the authors present their experience in treating six patients with ruptured dissecting aneurysms.Methods. The authors report on six patients with a ruptured dissecting aneurysm in the posterior fossa who were successfully treated by endovascular occlusion of the aneurysm by using Guglielmi detachable coils. The procedure was particularly aimed at occluding the dissected site.Conclusions. At the present time, endovascular occlusion of the dissected site is a safe, minimally invasive, and reliable treatment for dissecting aneurysms when a test occlusion is tolerated and adequate collateral circulation is present.


1987 ◽  
Vol 67 (6) ◽  
pp. 940-943 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce Rosenblum ◽  
Stephanie Rifkinson-Mann ◽  
Michael Sacher ◽  
Rosemaria Gennuso ◽  
Allen Rothman

✓ A case of atraumatic arteriovenous (AV) fistula of the extracranial vertebral artery associated with an atraumatic aneurysm of the contralateral extracranial vertebral artery is reported. The fistulous lesion was excised after distal and proximal ligation of the vessel. Subsequently, the contralateral aneurysm underwent spontaneous dissolution. Seven cases of extracranial vertebral AV fistulae associated with ipsilateral vertebral artery aneurysms (four traumatic and three as part of vascular dysplastic syndromes) have been reported previously.


1999 ◽  
Vol 91 (2) ◽  
pp. 303-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Ratliff ◽  
Rand M. Voorhies

✓ This 24-year-old man presented with an unusual case of a high-flow arteriovenous fistula (AVF). This lesion was similar to giant AVFs in children that have been previously described in the literature. In patients in whom abnormalities of the vein of Galen have been excluded and in whom presentation occurs after 20 years of age, a diagnosis of congenital AVF is quite unusual.The fistula in this case originated in an enlarged callosomarginal artery and drained into the superior sagittal sinus via a saccular vascular abnormality. Two giant aneurysmal dilations of the fistula were present. In an associated finding, a small falcine dural arteriovenous malformation (AVM) was also present. Arterial supply to the AVM arose from both external carotid arteries and the left vertebral artery, with drainage through an aberrant vein in the region of the inferior sagittal sinus into the vein of Galen.Craniotomy with exposure and trapping of the AVF was performed, with subsequent radiosurgical (linear accelerator) treatment of the dural AVM. Through this combination of microsurgical trapping of the AVF and radiotherapy of the dural AVM, an excellent clinical outcome was achieved.


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