Minimally invasive surgery for cerebral arteriovenous malformations

During the last ten years, patients with cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) were treated with palliative maneuvers such as partial embolization, radiosurgery, or feeder ligation alone. Forty three patients were followed up from 0.5 to 169 (49.4±39.8) months. Twenty five bleeding attacks from AVMs were observed in 18 patients. The annual risk of bleeding was 14.1%/year. Persistent progressive neurological deficit was noted in 1 patient. Major neurological deficits occurred in 10 patients (23.2%) and the mortality rate was 9.3%. Therefore palliative treatment did not completely prevent bleeding, and may have worsened the bleeding risk.