Impact on the quality of life of patients with arteriovenous malformations during the latent interval between gamma knife radiosurgery and lesion obliteration.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to measure the quality of life (QOL) in patients with cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) receiving gamma knife treatment before total AVM obliteration. Quality of life was assessed as it related to the knowledge of rebleeding risk during the waiting period, AVM symptoms, and previous bleeding.


METHODS
Thirty-nine patients age 18 years or older without other medical problems were asked to complete a questionnaire that included demographic variables, immediate effect of gamma knife radiosurgery, symptoms of AVM, previous hemorrhage, and the Duke-University of North Carolina Health Profile (63 items).


CONCLUSIONS
The QOL of patients with cerebral AVM during the waiting period after undergoing gamma knife treatment was affected by irreversible physical disabilities rather than the knowledge of hemorrhage risk and bleeding experience.
Lai
Erica Ho Pik
EH
Department of Neurosurgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China. erica813@sinagirl.com
Lun
Samuel Leung Cheong
SL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D002538:Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010465:Perception; D011788:Quality of Life; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000523:psychology*; D012917:Social Adjustment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014850:Waiting Lists