Association between draining vein diameters and intracranial arteriovenous malformation hemorrhage: a multicentric retrospective study.

PURPOSE: Intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) cause hemorrhage, and the role of draining vein diameters in rupture risk is controversial. The aims of the present study were to investigate the variables related with intracranial AVM rupture and to examine the association of draining vein diameters and AVM hemorrhage. METHODS: Two hundred three patients were included in this study, of which 117 (57%) had unruptured AVMs, and 86 (43%) had ruptured AVMs. RESULTS: In an adjusted (multivariate) analysis, the variables significantly associated with AVM hemorrhagic presentation were age (OR per year increase 0.97, 95%CI 0.95-0.99, p = 0.007), a deep nidus compared with superficial nidus (OR 3.21, 95%CI 1.13-9.06, p = 0.028), the nidus diameter (OR per each mm increase 0.95, 95%CI 0.92-0.97, p < 0.001), a single draining vein compared with multiple draining veins (OR 2.14, 95%CI 1.02-4.50, p = 0.044), the draining vein diameter (OR per mm increase 1.52, 95%CI 1.26-1.83, p < 0.001), and a draining vein diameter ≥ 5 mm compared with < 5 mm (OR 5.80, 95%CI 2.70-12.47, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In this study, after adjusted analysis, the variables associated with intracranial AVM hemorrhagic presentation were a young age, a small nidus diameter, a deeply located nidus, a single draining vein, and large draining vein diameters. A draining vein diameter cutoff ≥ 5 mm was positively associated with the risk of AVM rupture. A large and prospective study is now necessary to confirm if draining vein diameter is a risk factor for AVM hemorrhage.

Stereotactic Radiosurgery for ARUBA (A Randomized Trial of Unruptured Brain Arteriovenous Malformations)-Eligible Spetzler-Martin Grade I and II Arteriovenous Malformations: A Multicenter Study.

OBJECTIVE: ARUBA (A Randomized Trial of Unruptured Brain Arteriovenous Malformations) found better short-term outcomes after conservative management compared with intervention for unruptured arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). However, because Spetzler-Martin (SM) grade I-II AVMs have the lowest treatment morbidity, sufficient follow-up of these lesions may show a long-term benefit from intervention. The aim of this multicenter, retrospective cohort study is to assess the outcomes after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for ARUBA-eligible SM grade I-II AVMs. METHODS: We pooled SRS data for patients with AVM from 7 institutions and selected ARUBA-eligible SM grade I-II AVMs with ≥12 months follow-up for analysis. Favorable outcome was defined as AVM obliteration, no post-SRS hemorrhage, and no permanently symptomatic radiation-induced changes. RESULTS: The ARUBA-eligible SM grade I-II AVM cohort comprised 232 patients (mean age, 42 years). The mean nidus volume, SRS margin dose, and follow-up duration were 2.1 cm3, 22.5 Gy, and 90.5 months, respectively. The actuarial obliteration rates at 5 and 10 years were 72% and 87%, respectively; annual post-SRS hemorrhage rate was 1.0%; symptomatic and permanent radiation-induced changes occurred in 8% and 1%, respectively; and favorable outcome was achieved in 76%. Favorable outcome was significantly more likely in patients treated with a margin dose >20 Gy (83%) versus ≤20 Gy (62%; P < 0.001). Stroke or death occurred in 10% after SRS. CONCLUSIONS: For ARUBA-eligible SM grade I-II AVMs, long-term SRS outcomes compare favorably with the natural history. SRS should be considered for adult patients harboring unruptured, previously untreated low-grade AVMs with a minimum life expectancy of a decade.

Radiosurgery for Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations in A Randomized Trial of Unruptured Brain Arteriovenous Malformations (ARUBA)-Eligible Patients: A Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The benefit of intervention for patients with unruptured cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) was challenged by results demonstrating superior clinical outcomes with conservative management from A Randomized Trial of Unruptured Brain AVMs (ARUBA). The aim of this multicenter, retrospective cohort study is to analyze the outcomes of stereotactic radiosurgery for ARUBA-eligible patients. METHODS: We combined AVM radiosurgery outcome data from 7 institutions participating in the International Gamma Knife Research Foundation. Patients with ≥12 months of follow-up were screened for ARUBA eligibility criteria. Favorable outcome was defined as AVM obliteration, no postradiosurgery hemorrhage, and no permanently symptomatic radiation-induced changes. Adverse neurological outcome was defined as any new or worsening neurological symptoms or death. RESULTS: The ARUBA-eligible cohort comprised 509 patients (mean age, 40 years). The Spetzler-Martin grade was I to II in 46% and III to IV in 54%. The mean radiosurgical margin dose was 22 Gy and follow-up was 86 months. AVM obliteration was achieved in 75%. The postradiosurgery hemorrhage rate during the latency period was 0.9% per year. Symptomatic and permanent radiation-induced changes occurred in 11% and 3%, respectively. The rates of favorable outcome, adverse neurological outcome, permanent neurological morbidity, and mortality were 70%, 13%, 5%, and 4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Radiosurgery may provide durable clinical benefit in some ARUBA-eligible patients. On the basis of the natural history of untreated, unruptured AVMs in the medical arm of ARUBA, we estimate that a follow-up duration of 15 to 20 years is necessary to realize a potential benefit of radiosurgical intervention for conservative management in unruptured patients with AVM.

Abordagem anestésica de grávida com malformação arteriovenosa cerebral e hemorragia subaracnoidea durante a gravidez: relato de caso / Anesthetic approach of pregnant woman with cerebral arteriovenous malformation and subarachnoid hemorrhage during pregnancy: case report / Abordaje anestésico de embarazada con malformación arteriovenosa cerebral y hemorragia subaracnoidea durante el embarazo: relato de caso

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A ocorrência de hemorragia subaracnoidea (HSA) durante a gravidez é rara, sendo que cerca de metade é devida a malformações arteriovenosas (MAV). Os autores descrevem a abordagem anestésica de uma grávida de 39 semanas proposta para cesárea, com história de HSA por MAV às 22 semanas. RELATO DO CASO: Grávida de 39 semanas, saudável previamente à gravidez, com antecedentes de HSA às 22 semanas de gestação, manifestada por cefaleias, vômitos e tonturas, sem perda de consciência ou outros déficits à admissão no serviço de urgência. A ressonância magnética (RM) revelou MAV frontal esquerda. Após curto internamento para estabilização e diagnóstico, decidiu-se manter a gravidez e o seguimento ambulatorial multidisciplinar por neurocirurgia e obstetrícia em consulta de alto risco. Optou-se por fazer cesárea eletiva às 39 semanas sob anestesia peridural lombar. No intraoperatório ocorreu um episódio de hipotensão rapidamente revertida com fenilefrina. O Índice de Apgar do recém-nascido foi de 10/10. O cateter peridural foi usado para analgesia pós-operatória, também sem intercorrências. CONCLUSÕES: São muito raros os casos publicados de abordagem anestésica de grávidas com MAV sintomáticas. Todas as decisões tomadas pela equipe multidisciplinar, desde optar por continuar a gravidez ao momento ideal para intervir na MAV, passando pelo tipo de anestesia e analgesia, foram ponderadas em função do risco de dano cerebral. Do ponto de vista anestésico, os autores enfatizam a necessidade de estabilidade hemodinâmica.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) during pregnancy is a rare event, and about half the cases are due to arteriovenous malformations (AVM). The authors describe the anesthetic approach of a 39 week pregnant patient scheduled for cesarean section, with a history of SAH due to AVM at 22 week gestation. CASE REPORT: 39 week pregnant patient, healthy prior to pregnancy, with a history of SAH at 22 week gestation, manifested by headache, vomiting, and dizziness without loss of consciousness or other deficits on admission to the emergency room. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a left frontal AVM. After a short hospital stay for stabilization and diagnosis, the final medical decision was to maintain the pregnancy and a multidisciplinary follow-up by neurosurgery and high-risk obstetric consultation. An elective cesarean section was performed at 39 weeks under epidural anesthesia. During the intraoperative period, an episode of hypotension rapidly reversed with phenylephrine occurred. The newborn Apgar score was 10/10. An epidural catheter was used for postoperative analgesia, also uneventful. CONCLUSIONS: There are very few published cases of anesthetic approach for pregnant women with symptomatic AVM. All decisions made by the multidisciplinary team, from choosing to continue the pregnancy to the ideal time for AVM intervention and type of anesthesia and analgesia, were weighted according to the risk of brain damage. Regarding the anesthetic procedure, the authors emphasize the need for hemodynamic stability.

JUSTIFICATIVA Y OBJETIVOS: El aparecimiento de la hemorragia subaracnoidea (HSA) durante el embarazo es algo raro, siendo que aproximadamente la mitad se debe a malformaciones arteriovenosas (MAV). Los autores describen el abordaje anestésico de una embarazada de 39 semanas programada para cesárea, con un historial de HSA por MAV a las 22 semanas. RELATO DEL CASO: Embarazada de 39 semanas, sana antes del embarazo, con antecedentes de HSA a las 22 semanas de gestación que se manifestó por medio de cefaleas, vómitos y mareos, sin la pérdida de la consciencia u otros déficits a la hora de su entrada en el servicio de urgencia. La resonancia magnética (RM) arrojó MAV frontal izquierda. Después de un breve período de ingreso para la estabilización y el diagnóstico, se decidió mantener el embarazo y el acompañamiento ambulatorio multidisciplinario por neurocirugía y obstetricia en consulta de alto riesgo. Se optó por realizar la cesárea electiva a las 39 semanas bajo anestesia epidural lumbar. En el intraoperatorio ocurrió un episodio de hipotensión que fue rápidamente revertido con fenilefrina. El Índice de Apgar del recién nacido fue de 10/10. El catéter epidural fue usado para la analgesia postoperatoria, que también cursó sin intercurrencias. CONCLUSIONES: Son muy raros los casos publicados de abordaje anestésico de embarazadas con MAV sintomáticas. Todas las decisiones tomadas por el equipo multidisciplinario, desde optar por continuar con el embarazo, hasta el momento ideal para intervenir la MAV, pasando por el tipo de anestesia y analgesia, fueron sopesadas en función del riesgo de daño cerebral. Desde el punto de vista anestésico, los autores enfatizan la necesidad de estabilidad hemodinámica.

Anesthetic approach of pregnant woman with cerebral arteriovenous malformation and subarachnoid hemorrhage during pregnancy: Case report.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) during pregnancy is a rare event, and about half the cases are due to arteriovenous malformations (AVM). The authors describe the anesthetic approach of a 39 week pregnant patient scheduled for cesarean section, with a history of SAH due to AVM at 22 week gestation. CASE REPORT: 39 week pregnant patient, healthy prior to pregnancy, with a history of SAH at 22 week gestation, manifested by headache, vomiting, and dizziness without loss of consciousness or other deficits on admission to the emergency room. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a left frontal AVM. After a short hospital stay for stabilization and diagnosis, the final medical decision was to maintain the pregnancy and a multidisciplinary follow-up by neurosurgery and high-risk obstetric consultation. An elective cesarean section was performed at 39 weeks under epidural anesthesia. During the intraoperative period, an episode of hypotension rapidly reversed with phenylephrine occurred. The newborn Apgar score was 10/10. An epidural catheter was used for postoperative analgesia, also uneventful. CONCLUSIONS: There are very few published cases of anesthetic approach for pregnant women with symptomatic AVM. All decisions made by the multidisciplinary team, from choosing to continue the pregnancy to the ideal time for AVM intervention and type of anesthesia and analgesia, were weighted according to the risk of brain damage. Regarding the anesthetic procedure, the authors emphasize the need for hemodynamic stability.