Abstract
Background and purpose
CSF-venous fistulas (CVF) cause spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) and can be treated with transvenous embolization (TVE). Although TVE has been shown to result in substantial symptomatic improvement, some patients may require retreatment. The purpose of this study was to clarify the rate, anatomic location, and timing of CVF recurrence/retreatment after TVE.Materials and methods
This study is a single-center, retrospective cohort of consecutive patients with CVF who were treated with TVE. The rate of retreatment after TVE was determined. In addition, timing of symptom onset and location of recurrent CVF was recorded.Results
One hundred consecutive patients (65% women, mean age 59.3 years) with 105 CVFs treated with TVE were included. Overall, 23% (23/100) of patients required retreatment due to persistence or recurrence of symptoms. Most retreatment patients (74%; 17/23) had persistent or recurrent symptoms within 3 months after TVE. Approximately one-third of patients needing retreatment (35%; 8/23) had a CVF at the same site and level as the initial CVF after having been embolized. Approximately one-third (30%; 7/23) had a recurrent CVF adjacent to the initial CVF (defined as 1 level above, 1 level below, or at the same level but on the contralateral side). The remaining patients (35%; 8/23) had a CVF remote from the original fistula site.Conclusions
Approximately 23% of patients with CVF that are treated with TVE will require retreatment. Symptom recurrence is most common within 3 months after initial treatment. Recurrence can occur due to local treatment failure or development of collateral drainage pathways, but a substantial proportion of patients develop de novo CVFs remote from the initial treatment site. These findings can be used to counsel patients and to manage treatment expectations.