title: Clinical and radiological long-term follow-up after embolization of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations.
abstract: The purpose was to evaluate the clinical and radiological long-term results of embolization of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) and to assess the quality of life after treatment. A clinical follow-up was undertaken after 67 months (mean) in 35 consecutive patients with 106 PAVMs. Outcome parameters at follow-up were PaO(2) and patients' satisfaction. During follow-up, the patients had a clinical examination, measurement of arterial blood gases, chest X-ray, and contrast echocardiography performed and were asked to fill in a questionnaire exploring experience of the treatment and subjective effect of treatment on physical and social functioning. A significant rise in oxygenation of the blood after embolization was measured. In 77% of the patients symptoms improved, and 71% felt better performance. In eight patients, one of the PAVMs was found insufficiently embolized or recanalized at follow-up angiography and therefore were re-embolized. Endovascular embolization for PAVMs is effective. Clinical parameters and quality of life improved significantly. Regular clinical controls after therapy are necessary to discover insufficiently embolized, recanalized or new PAVMs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Odense University Hospital, DK-5000 Odense C, Denmark. anders1@dadlnet.dk
authors.forename: Poul Erik
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Anette D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Kjeldsen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D001165:Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011651:Pulmonary Artery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome