ARTERIOVENOUS MALFORMATION NIDUS CATHETERIZATION WITH HYDROPHILIC WIRE AND FLOW-DIRECTED CATHETER

Arteriovenous malformation nidus catheterization with a flow-directed catheter at times can be difficult owing to tortuosity of the intracra nial vasculature and distal location of the nidus. Since January 1995, hydrophilic wire has been used in conjunction with the 1.8F flow-dire cted microcatheter in over 150 vessel embolizations with cyanoacrylate glue for brain and spinal arteriovenous malformations at our institut ion. This technique has improved our success rate in achieving superse lective catheterization of the nidus and has shortened the overall pro cedure time. To date, only one complication has occurred that was dire ctly related to wire manipulation.