Endovascular Recanalization of Occluded Dural Sinus in Patient with Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas: Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Background: Symptomatic sinus occlusion complicated with dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) can be treated successfully endovascularly. However, no studies have reported the use of endovascular transvenous approaches alone to recanalize the occluded sinuses for treatment of the involved dAVFs without stent deployment. In this study, we presented a 75-year-old man with occlusion of the transverse and sigmoid sinuses complicated with a dAVF.

Case description: This patient initially suffered intermittent headache, nausea, and vomiting but developed seizures and hemiplegic paralysis 2 months later. Neurologic examination revealed mildly decreased motor function in grade IV in the left limb. Intracranial pressure by lumbar puncture was 300 mm H₂O. Magnetic resonance imaging venography disclosed sinus occlusion and dAVFs accounting for encephaledema. Cerebral angiography revealed occlusion of the left transverse and sigmoid sinuses and cortical reflux with the sinus junction unobstructed. The feeding arteries of the left transverse sinus dAVFs were muscular branches of the left vertebral artery and external carotid artery, and the draining vein was from the superior sagittal sinus to the contralateral transverse sinus. Balloon angioplasty plus mechanical cracking (pulling a microcatheter back and forth) was used to recanalize the occluded sinuses. The symptoms disappeared after endovascular recanalization of the occluded left transverse sinus and sigmoid sinuses, and follow-up venography revealed opened sinuses with complete disappearance of the dAVF.

Conclusion: Endovascular transvenous recanalization may be a better alternative therapy for selected patients with dural arteriovenous fistulas complicated by sinus occlusion without stent deployment.

Keywords: Angiography; Balloon angioplasty; Dural arteriovenous fistula; Recanalization; Sinus occlusion.