Intraoperative Angiography Using Portable Fluoroscopy Unit in the Treatment of Vascular Malformation

Intraoperative angiography (IOA) is employed for the treatment of the complicated cases in neurological surgery. The IOA is usually performed with OEC portable digital subtraction angiography (DSA) unit. We are performing IOA with portable fluoroscopy unit with simple DSA function and report its usefulness on neurosurgical treatment. IOA or hybrid treatment with mobile fluoroscopy system was performed for 9 cases [cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM), 3; cranial dural arteriovenous fistula (AVF), 2; and spinal AVM/AVF, 4]. Thus, ex vivo analysis was performed comparing image quality of portable fluoroscopy unit and conventional DSA system. Although the resolution of portable fluoroscopy unit is not so high compared to conventional DSA system, the existence of the vascular lesions such as cerebral aneurysm, cerebral AVM, and spinal dural AVF were detected. The operation of portable fluoroscopy unit was simple and no special assistance was required. The complication related to the catheterization or IOA did not occur. IOA with portable fluoroscopy unit was useful for the identification of vascular lesion and has advantage on the cost benefit.