Spontaneous opening of large occipital-vertebral artery anastomosis during embolization. Case report.
A patient undergoing external carotid artery therapeutic embolization for obliteration of a dural arteriovenous malformation suddenly developed a large occipital artery to vertebral artery shunt. A devastating stroke was averted because the appearance of the shunt was observed by fluoroscopy, the embolization was stopped, and the shunt verified on a subsequent angiogram. The risk of external carotid artery embolization without constant fluoroscopic control is emphasized.
D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000601:surgery; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005402:Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D002538:Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009778:Occipital Lobe / Q000098:blood supply*; D011859:Radiography; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging