Endovascular treatment of a traumatic dural arteriovenous fistula of the superior sagittal sinus using dual lumen balloon microcatheter

Case Report

A 36-year-old man with repeatedly paroxysmal headache was admitted to our hospital. The patient suffered a severe head trauma in a car accident 21 days prior to the accident. He was admitted to hospital with periorbital soft tissue swelling, CT scanning revealed a skull fracture in SSS area. Before he was transferred to our hospital, Computerized tomographic angiography (CTA) revealed vascular malformation and venous congestion of the SSS, which was considered to be secondary to the trauma. Neurological examination revealed no abnormalities. Left internal carotid artery angiogram revealed a DAVF supplied by the anterior falx artery (Figure 1A). Left lateral (Figure 1B), anteroposterior (Figure 1C) and right lateral (Figure 1D) view of left external carotid artery (ECA) angiogram showed the SSS DAVF with bilateral cortical venous reflux.

• Download figure
• Open in new tab
• Download powerpoint

Figure 1

Endovascular treatment for a patient with posttraumatic dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) of the superior sagittal sinus (SSS). A) Left internal carotid artery angiogram before embolization showing the DAVF supplied by the anterior falx artery; B, C and D) Lateral (B&D) and anteroposterior (C) view of left external carotid artery (ECA) angiogram before embolization showing the DAVF of SSS with bilateral cortical venous reflux; E) Unsubtracted image showing the Scepter balloon catheter navigated close to the fistulous point for Onyx injection (arrow head indicating the balloon markers, arrow indicating the distal tip); F) Unsubtracted image showing the Onyx cast extending to the proximal draining vein after embolization; G) Post-embolization angiogram of the left common carotid artery showing complete disappearance of the fistula. H) Post-embolization angiogram of the right ECA showing complete disappearance of the fistula.

Embolization of the DAVF was performed under general anesthesia. A Scepter C balloon catheter (4×15 mm, MicroVention, Tustin, California, USA) was placed at the most distal segment of the left middle meningeal artery (MMA) and contrast medium was injected into the balloon. Unsubtracted image showed the Scepter balloon catheter navigated close to the fistulous point for Onyx injection (Figure 1E). In order to occlude any residual fistula, Onyx-18 (eV3, Irvine, California, USA) was then injected through the dual lumen balloon catheter positioned in one branch of the MMA. Unsubtracted image showed the Onyx cast extending to the proximal draining vein after embolization (Figure 1F). With the balloon inflated, a total of 1.2 ml of Onyx-18 was delivered with thorough penetration into the malformation slowly, after which, angiogram of both the left common carotid artery and the right external carotid artery (ECA) showed complete disappearance of the fistula (Figures 1G-H). The balloon was deflated by syringe suction without difficulty. At the end of the procedure, the catheter was removed under constant aspiration without any noticeable adherence to the Onyx cast. Procedure related complications were not observed. At 6 months follow-up, it revealed complete occlusion of the lesion.

Discussion Dural arteriovenous fistula account for 10%–15% of intracranial arteriovenous malformations.6 DAVFs in SSS are extremely rare. A small percentage of patients have a history of previous trauma, they have been well reported.7 The common characteristic of DAVFs happened when a patient suffered skull fraction, or other trauma, not long after a head injury with progressive symptoms such as, exophthalmos, swelling of the eyelids, bruit, and so forth. This scenario most likely accounts for the findings in our patient, and we believe that his DAVFs probably were secondary to the head injury rather than a congenital anomaly. So far, the first-line treatment for DAVFs is embolization by using transarterial, transvenous, or occasionally, combined approaches.1-8 This approach proved to be effective comparable with DAVF obliteration in preventing neurologic morbidity with lower levels of procedural risk. The optimal method of endovascular treatment remains debated and controversial. The use of Onyx has been increasingly reported for the treatment of DAVFs.2-10 Using reflux as a plug, operator creates a forward flow of Onyx, which is called the “plug and push technique.” The dual lumen balloon microcatheter served a dual purpose: the Onyx-18 injection was allowed through the dual lumen balloon catheter and a mechanical barrier was provided to prevent the Onyx reflux at the same time. This technique is an option during extracranial embolic embolization in a few select cases.

In this case, a patient with a post-traumatic DAVF of the SSS was effectively treated. It is appropriate to select a dual lumen balloon microcatheter for complex dural arteriovenous fistulas. Using a dual lumen balloon microcatheter helps prevent Onyx reflux and improves its penetration during Onyx embolization of DAVFs. Thus, this is a feasible and effective alternative approach for the management of post-traumatic DAVFs.