Comparing transvenous coiling and transarterial embolization with Onyx/NBCA for cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistulas: A retrospective study in a single center

Biomed J. 2024 Jun;47(3):100657. doi: 10.1016/j.bj.2023.100657. Epub 2023 Sep 3.

Abstract

Background: Endovascular management is the gold standard for cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistulas (CS-dAVFs) in patients with signs of ophthalmoplegia, visual defects, or intolerable clinical symptoms. Although the efficacy of embolization has been confirmed, complications during post-endovascular management have not been compared in a more extensive CS-dAVFs case series. Therefore, we compared the effectiveness and peri-procedural complications of transvenous coiling with those of transarterial embolization (TAE) using liquid embolic agents.

Methods: We reviewed 71 patients with CS-dAVFs in one medical center from 2005/7 to 2016/7. We performed seventy-seven procedures on 71 patients, including six recurrent cases. We compared the efficacy and peri-procedural complications of transvenous coiling and TAE.

Results: The complete occlusion rate for transvenous coiling was 79.2%, and that for TAE was 75.0%. Findings revealed (1) similar ophthalmoplegia complication rates (p = 0.744); (2) more frequent and permanent CN5 or CN7 neuropathy with liquid embolic agent use (p = 0.031 and 0.028, respectively); and (3) a higher risk of infarction or ICH (p = 0.002 and 0.028, respectively) in response to aggressive TAE.

Conclusion: Transvenous cavernous sinus coiling resulted in a similar occlusion rate and lower complication risk than transarterial Onyx/n-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA). We can access via an occluded inferior petrosal sinus (even contralateral), and direct transorbital puncture was a safe alternative. TAE with Onyx/NBCA was helpful in cases of oligo-feeders, but multidisciplinary treatment and multi-session TAE were usually needed for patients with multiple feeders and complex fistulas.

Keywords: Cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistulas; Coiling; Indirect carotid cavernous fistula; Inferior petrous sinus; Intensive NBCA/Onyx embolization.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cavernous Sinus* / diagnostic imaging
  • Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations* / therapy
  • Dimethyl Sulfoxide / therapeutic use
  • Embolization, Therapeutic* / methods
  • Enbucrilate / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polyvinyls* / therapeutic use
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Polyvinyls
  • Dimethyl Sulfoxide
  • Enbucrilate
  • Onyx copolymer