TREATMENT OF HIGH-FLOW VASCULAR MALFORMATIONS BY VENOUS EMBOLIZATION AIDED BY FLOW OCCLUSION TECHNIQUES

Purpose: Transvenous embolization techniques may be helpful as alterna tives to the arterial route when treating high-flow vascular malformat ions. We present our experience using these techniques in four patient s. Methods: In one patient the venous portion of the arteriovenous mal formation (AVM) was punctured directly; in the other three patients it was catheterized via a retrograde venous approach. Flow occlusion tec hniques were utilized in all patients during embolization, which was p erformed with absolute alcohol or N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate. Results: Ex cellent clinical and angiographic results were obtained, with oblitera tion of arteriovenous shunting in all patients. There were no complica tions. Conclusion: The embolization of certain AVMs using a venous app roach is a safe and effective treatment.