The use of adenosine in the treatment of a high-flow vein of Galen malformation in an adult.

Abstract

The treatment of high-flow vein of Galen aneurysmal malformations (VGAM) remains a therapeutic challenge for the neurosurgeon and the neurointerventionalist, as it is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates despite recent advances in open cranial surgery and interventional neuroradiology. A 37-year-old patient presented with a history of non-specific headaches. He had a history of heart failure since birth that was caused by an untreated VGAM. Intravenous boluses of adenosine were injected as an attempt to slow down the arteriovenous shunting of a VGAM prior to endovascular treatment. Adenosine can be a very useful adjunct in patients with extremely high arteriovenous shunting. n-butyl cyanoacrylate (n-BCA) should be the embolic material of choice due to its quick polymerization and adhesive properties.

• Authors: Asterios Tsimpas, Nohra Chalouhi, Jonathan D Halevy, Stavropoula Tjoumakaris, L Fernando Gonzalez, Stephen J Monteith, Aaron S Dumont, Robert Rosenwasser, Pascal Jabbour
• Journal: Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia (J Clin Neurosci) Vol. 21 Issue 7 Pg. 1259-61 (Jul 2014) ISSN: 1532-2653 [Electronic] Scotland
• PMID: 24491583 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Vasodilator Agents
• Adenosine

Topics

• Adenosine (therapeutic use)
• Adult
• Angiography, Digital Subtraction
• Humans
• Male
• Vasodilator Agents (therapeutic use)
• Vein of Galen Malformations (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy, physiopathology)