Intraoperative angiography in the surgical treatment of cerebral arteriovenous malformations and fistulas.

Background: The role of intraoperative angiography in the surgical treatment of cerebrovascular malformations remains controversial. The authors report on their experiences with intraoperative angiography in a series of 20 cases with cerebrovascular malformation to determine whether the use of intraoperative angiography has a favorable impact on the surgical treatment of cerebrovascular malformations.
Methods: Intraoperative angiography was performed in the surgical resection of arteriovenous malformation in 18 patients and in the surgical obliteration of arteriovenous fistula in 2 patients. The incidence of unexpected findings, such as residual nidus, demonstrated by intraoperative angiography was determined.
Findings: High-quality subtraction images were obtained by intraoperative angiography in every case and the findings prompted an additional procedure in 1 case that displayed an unexpected residual nidus (5.6%). There were no complications from the intraoperative angiography procedure.
Interpretation: Intraoperative assessment of technical results prior to wound closure offers the neurosurgeon the opportunity to resect or obliterate a vascular malformation completely, obviating a second operation.