Resection of a giant intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula with the use of low-flow deep hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass after partial embolization: technical case report.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE

To describe the surgical resection of a giant intracerebral arteriovenous fistula with involvement of dura mater and surrounding bone. Intraoperative bleeding was controlled by hypothermic circulatory arrest.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION

This 46-year-old woman complained of persistent headache for 1 year; her diagnostic workup revealed the presence of an arteriovenous fistula in the dura mater of the left temporal region fed by the meningeal artery of the external and internal carotid arteries, with normal run-off into Labbé's and Trolard's veins. Magnetic resonance imaging depicted a Chiari I malformation that was most likely a result of insufficient cerebral venous drainage.

INTERVENTION

In preparation for surgery, staged embolization of feeders from the left meningeal artery and the left occipital artery was performed under controlled hypotension. This procedure failed to achieve a significant reduction in flow because of the immediate recruitment of internal branches of the internal carotid artery and dural branches of the right external carotid artery. Surgical treatment was undertaken without further embolization. Because of involvement of surrounding bone and the high risk of uncontrollable bleeding, the procedure was carried out with the patient under deep hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. Forty-five minutes of low flow (1.5 L/min) at 18 degrees C allowed total resection of the involved dura mater and surrounding bone. Postoperative recovery was marked by left brain edema that disappeared within 10 days. Findings on follow-up angiography were normal, and the patient was discharged with no neurological deficit.

CONCLUSION

Low-flow deep hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass can be used to control intraoperative bleeding for surgical excision of a giant intracerebral dural arteriovenous fistula.