Abstract
Intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) are diagnosed with catheter digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and confirmed intraoperatively with indocyanine green videoangiography (ICG-VA). Stand-alone ICG-VA has been demonstrated to successfully predict complete obliteration of spinal DAVFs with an associated cost reduction. The predictive value of standalone ICG-VA has not been assessed; this study sought to assess the diagnostic value of intraoperative ICG-VA versus postoperative DSA for obliteration of cranial DAVFs.
A multi-institutional cerebrovascular database was queried for all surgically managed DAVFs. Patients who underwent both intraoperative ICG-VA and postoperative DSA were included. Demographic and radiologic data, intraoperative findings, and surgical outcome data were analyzed retrospectively.
Thirty-five patients with 39 DAVFs were identified (mean [SD] age: 60.3 [10.4] years; 26 [74 %] men, 9 [26 %] women). All DAVFs were treated with interruption of the fistula with clip occlusion of the draining vein. Intraoperative ICG-VA showed complete obliteration in all patients. Postoperative DSA was performed after 28 procedures and confirmed complete obliteration in all cases. The negative predictive value of ICG-VA confirming complete occlusion of cranial DAVFs was 100 %.
Complete microsurgical occlusion of DAVFs can be confirmed using intraoperative ICG-VA. The diagnostic power of ICG-VA is underscored by its direct correlation with postoperative DSA results. The 100 % negative predictive value of ICG-VA suggests that postoperative DSA may not be necessary when intraoperative ICG-VA confirms complete occlusion of the DAVF. Forgoing postoperative DSA has the potential to save patients the procedural risk and cost associated with an additional procedure.
•ICG-VA showed 100 % negative predictive value for confirming DAVF obliteration.•Postoperative DSA confirmed ICG-VA findings of complete DAVF occlusion in all cases.•57 % of patients remained neurologically stable, and 39 % showed improvement.•Microsurgical occlusion of DAVFs proved effective with favorable clinical outcomes.•ICG-VA reduced the need for postoperative DSA, highlighting its intraoperative utility.