Interventional neuroradiological management of vein of Galen malformations in the neonate.

Since 1978, the authors have seen 14 neonates with vein of Galen malformations who were born with severe congestive heart failure. The 5 infants treated before 1983 underwent craniotomy and clipping of feeding vessels; all died in the perioperative period. Since 1983, 8 neonates have been treated with combined arterial and venous interventional neuroradiological techniques; 6 infants survived. Two-dimensional echocardiography, color Doppler flow imaging, and pulsed Doppler ultrasound were used to assess blood flow within the malformation before and after staged transluminal embolic procedures were performed. The results of the diagnostic studies and the clinical status of the infants were used to evaluate the success of embolic therapy and the need for further neuroradiological intervention.