Pietro Fiaschi1, Alessandro Prior2, Pier Filippo Sbaffi2, Fabiola Bizzi3, Alessandro D'Andrea2, Bernarda Cagetti4, Filippo Badaloni4, Luca Allegretti5, Nicola Mavilio5, Riccardo Padolecchia6, Valtero Valsania4, Gianluigi Zona2. 1. Section of Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosciences (DINOGMI), San Martino University Hospital, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy. Electronic address: pietro.fiaschi@alice.it. 2. Section of Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosciences (DINOGMI), San Martino University Hospital, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy. 3. Department of Educational Sciences (DISFOR), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy. 4. Department of Neurosurgery, S. Corona Hospital, Pietra Ligure, Italy. 5. Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, San Martino University Hospital, Genoa, Italy. 6. Department of Neuroradiology, S. Corona Hospital, Pietra Ligure, Italy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Dorsal intradural arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) consist of a direct connection between a radicular feeding artery and the coronal venous plexus; this direct connection leads to arterialization of the venous plexus, venous congestion, and myelopathy. Controversy still exists regarding the best treatment modality of spinal dural AVFs. Surgical disconnection of spinal dural AVFs is a straightforward procedure with a high success rate and virtually no risk of recurrence or incomplete treatment. To identify factors associated with the clinical progression of dorsal intradural AVFs and quantify the range of surgical outcomes in terms of neurologic improvement as well as patients' perception of quality of life (QOL). METHODS: A retrospective observational study of 19 consecutive patients treated with surgery over a 10-year period was carried out. We analyzed surgical results and clinical outcomes. We also evaluated the impact of this disease and its sequelae on the patients' postoperative health-related QOL. RESULTS: The surgical procedure showed good results in terms of neurologic improvement as well as patients' perception of QOL. CONCLUSIONS: Our series confirmed that surgical obliteration of dorsal intradural AVFs is an effective and safe procedure. The results of this retrospective analysis make us believe that surgery, given its low morbidity and high success rate, represents a safe and effective first therapeutic option for these spinal vascular malformations. It could be considered to avoid unsuccessful endovascular attempts that could delay the definitive treatment of this disease. The surgical procedure showed good results in terms of neurologic improvement as well as patients' perception of QOL.
OBJECTIVE: Dorsal intradural arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) consist of a direct connection between a radicular feeding artery and the coronal venous plexus; this direct connection leads to arterialization of the venous plexus, venous congestion, and myelopathy. Controversy still exists regarding the best treatment modality of spinal dural AVFs. Surgical disconnection of spinal dural AVFs is a straightforward procedure with a high success rate and virtually no risk of recurrence or incomplete treatment. To identify factors associated with the clinical progression of dorsal intradural AVFs and quantify the range of surgical outcomes in terms of neurologic improvement as well as patients' perception of quality of life (QOL). METHODS: A retrospective observational study of 19 consecutive patients treated with surgery over a 10-year period was carried out. We analyzed surgical results and clinical outcomes. We also evaluated the impact of this disease and its sequelae on the patients' postoperative health-related QOL. RESULTS: The surgical procedure showed good results in terms of neurologic improvement as well as patients' perception of QOL. CONCLUSIONS: Our series confirmed that surgical obliteration of dorsal intradural AVFs is an effective and safe procedure. The results of this retrospective analysis make us believe that surgery, given its low morbidity and high success rate, represents a safe and effective first therapeutic option for these spinal vascular malformations. It could be considered to avoid unsuccessful endovascular attempts that could delay the definitive treatment of this disease. The surgical procedure showed good results in terms of neurologic improvement as well as patients' perception of QOL.
Authors: Mohammed A Azab; Emma R Dioso; Matthew C Findlay; Jayson Nelson; Cameron A Rawanduzy; Philip Johansen; Brandon Lucke-Wold Journal: J Rare Dis Orphan Drugs Date: 2022-06-07