INTRACRANIAL DURAL ARTERIOVENOUS FISTULAS. EXPERIENCE AT OUR CENTER

• Main Authors: Gil, María del, Collía Fernández, A, Gil Alzueta, M.C, Sainz Pelayo , A, Rodrigo Armenteros , P, Erburu Iriarte , M, Cabrera Muras , A
• Format: Web Resource
• Language: English
• Published: Morressier 01.01.2017
• DOI: 10.26226/morressier.5cb58cfdc668520010b56cf6

Background and aims:Dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVF) are a rare type of vascular malformation in which there is a pathological communication between dural arteries and veins or venous sinus. Clinical presentation and severity depend on drainage type and location.Methods:Retrospective, descriptive study including patients seen in our centre during 10 years. DAVF were classified using Cognard scale. Epidemiology, location, drainage, clinical presentation, trearment and prognosis were analyzed. Results:34 patients were diagnosed with DAVF during this period. Median age was 61 years old and most of them were male (73.5%). In 23 patients (67.6%) the etiology was unknown. Clinical presentation was severe (hemorrhage, seizures, focal deficit) in 24 patients (70.7%), rest of them had minor symptoms as thrill or headache, or were asymptomatic. 6 patients (17.6%) first contact was as a stroke code. 23 of the 24 patients presenting with severe symptoms were Cognard >/=IIb. 24 patients (70.6%) received treatment, of which 16 (66.7%) was surgical. Complete obliteration of DAVF was achieved in 17 (70.8%). After discharge, 7 patients (20.6%) presented mRankin >2, all of them had severe clinical presentation and Cognard >/= IIb. Conclusions: Worse prognosis was seen in patients who have direct cortical vein drainage and/or agressive clinical presentation. Surgical treatment was the most frecuently used in our centre, getting good results in the majority of cases.