Vertebral arterio-venous fistula presenting with intracranial hemorrhage

Vertebral arteriovenous fistulas are rare lesions consisting of an abnormal shunt between the extracranial vertebral artery and the neighboring veins. The authors present a case of post-surgical high-flow left vertebral arteriovenous fistula presenting with intracranial hemorrhage. The patient underwent endovascular balloon occlusion of the fistula: after endovascular treatment a reduction of the flow was evident but the patient presented neurological deterioration related the occurrence of intraventricular-subarachnoid hemorrhage. Intracranial hemorrhage is a potential manifestation of high-flow vertebral AVF and a possible complication of endovascular fistula balloon occlusion. Direct endovascular occlusion of the vertebral artery may be primarily considered in selected cases.