Treatment of cerebral arteriovenous malformations with PVA. Results and analysis of complications.

35 Patients with cerebral arteriovenous malformations treated by endovascular embolization were analyzed. The treatment was performed in most cases with polyvinyl alcohol with additional applications of silk, coils, gelfoam or detectable balloon in some patients. 8 patients developing mild to moderate neurological deficits persisting in three patients (8.6%). No correlation of complications with history of bleeding, neurological deficit, AVM localization, AVM size, angioarchitecture, amount of occlusion and duration of the procedure could be found. Technical factors of the procedure itself are assumed to be responsible for the rate of complications.