Intraoperative spinal digital subtraction angiography: technique and results.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate technical and methodological aspects of intraoperative spinal digital subtraction angiography (ISDSA) in our clinical practice and to assess its practicability, safety, and accuracy for the surgical treatment of spinal vascular malformations. METHODS: Between August 1997 and February 2002, a total of 30 patients were treated either surgically (n = 18) or endovascularly (n = 12) for spinal vascular lesions at our institution. The clinical records of five patients who underwent ISDSA were analyzed retrospectively. The thoracic segment was involved in three patients and the medullary cone in two. RESULTS: ISDSA could be performed in four cases. In one patient, the segmental artery could not be probed sufficiently while the patient was prone. No complications occurred from the application of ISDSA. The method was beneficial for the neurosurgeon in all but one patient because the vascular anatomy of the malformation was shown with respect to the surgical approach, including the nidus, and immediate resection control could be performed before wound closure. The duration of the procedure was prolonged by 45 minutes on average. CONCLUSION: ISDSA is safe and effective, especially in surgery for complex vascular and recurrent malformations. Benefits to the patient outweigh the additional expense and prolongation of the surgical procedure.