Abstract
Introduction
Spinal dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) is the most common vascular malformation of the spinal cord. We performed an observational study of patients with spinal DAVF who were treated by microsurgical obliteration with intraoperative indocyanine green (ICG) angiograph with the aim of complete obliteration of the fistulae.
Material and Methods
10 patients were included from May 2012 to May 2015. They were treated surgically with intraoperative intravenous administration of ICG. Direct microsurgical exploration was employed to identify the intradural fistulous connection and intravenous ICG was then injected to verify the identification of the lesion. Repeat ICG angiography was performed after the fistula had been obliterated using bipolar electrocautery.
Results
In all patients, ICG angiography correlated reliably with preoperative catheter angiography and intraoperative direct visualization and the fistulous connection was identified and successfully treated surgically.
Conclusion
ICG angiography in the setting of surgical management of spinal DAVF is a simple and effective technique for intraoperative confirmation of the relevant lesion. Post resection ICG angiography reliably demonstrated technical success and may replace formal postoperative catheter angiography.