title: Vertebral arterio-venous fistula presenting with intracranial hemorrhage.
abstract: Vertebral arteriovenous fistulas are rare lesions consisting of an abnormal shunt between the extracranial vertebral artery and the neighboring veins. The authors present a case of post-surgical high-flow left vertebral arteriovenous fistula presenting with intracranial hemorrhage. The patient underwent endovascular balloon occlusion of the fistula: after endovascular treatment a reduction of the flow was evident but the patient presented neurological deterioration related the occurrence of intraventricular-subarachnoid hemorrhage. Intracranial hemorrhage is a potential manifestation of high-flow vertebral AVF and a possible complication of endovascular fistula balloon occlusion. Direct endovascular occlusion of the vertebral artery may be primarily considered in selected cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, S. Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Righi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tartara
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Prada
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mandelli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Versari
mesh_terms: D001164:Arteriovenous Fistula / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D021721:Balloon Occlusion / Q000009:adverse effects; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000209:etiology*; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000002:abnormalities*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000002:abnormalities*