Feasibility of the superselective test with propofol for determining eloquent brain regions in the endovascular treatment of arteriovenous malformations.

The superselective test for determining eloquent brain areas, carried out prior to the embolization treatment for arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), is a tool contributing to increase the safety of endovascular procedures. Taking into account amobarbital unavailability, it was decided to carry out the present study to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of propofol as an alternative to amobarbital to perform this test. A group of 58 patients were treated in 91 embolization sessions for brain AVMs using endovascular surgery between February 2006 and February 2011. The superselective test was performed prior to embolization with Histoacryl, using the intra-arterial administration of 20 mg propofol through a microcatheter positioned near the AVM nidus. Ten (7.8%) of the 128 superselective tests were positive. Neurological deficits appeared immediately after propofol administration, lasted for one minute and disappeared after five minutes. Only one of the patients showing a negative test result developed neurological deficits after embolization, for 99.2% negative predictive vale. Despite their positive test results, six patients were embolized and five developed post-embolization neurological deficits, for 83.3% positive predictive value. The test showed 83.3% sensitivity and 99.2% specificity. The use of propofol to perform the superselective test during brain AVM embolization is a safe and effective alternative to amobarbital, and may predict the occurrence of post-embolization ischemic complications.