Anaesthetic experience of the first nine patients in Singapore who underwent closed embolisation of cerebral arteriovenous malformations is reported. Six patients had neurolept analgesia and three had general anaesthesia.
Arteriovenous malformation of the pregnant uterus is very rare, and may present with unexplained torrential bleeding. We report a patient with absence of the conventional risk factors, and was saved by quick recourse to hysterectomy to control the bleeding.
Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) are commonly congenital in origin. We hereby describe the case of a 24-year-old male who was diagnosed of left thigh intramuscular AVM at the time of 14 years old. The computerized tomography (CT) scan confirmed a large deep seated intramuscular AVM with the size of 20 x 15 cm, with dilated and distended feeding vessel from profunda femoris artery (PFA) and superficial femoral artery (SFA). He also had another AVM near the left supracondylar region adherent to the sciatic nerve. The main AVM lesion was earlier treated with surgical resection and it remained for asymptomatic for next seven years. Following this, the patient presented again to the clinic with recurring swelling, pain and occasional paraesthesia on the same site. He was then managed with a series of embolization (total of 6 attempts) with histoacryl glue. These attempts of embolization were successful. The interesting case of pulmonary embolism due histoacryl glue following embolization of an AVM is described.
Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations are rare vascular anomalies. We report a 12-year-old girl who presented with exertional dyspnoea, cyanosis and clubbing since the age of five years, and multiple pulmonary arteriovenous malformations. Computed tomography pulmonary angiogram showed a large pulmonary arteriovenous malformation at the lower lobe of the right lung. Pulmonary angiogram showed a large right lung arteriovenous malformation and two small left lung arteriovenous malformations. The multiple arteriovenous malformations were occluded with Gianturco coils. She is now asymptomatic and on regular follow-up.
Arteriovenous malformations are congenital lesions that may evolve with time and manifest in a plethora of presentations. They can occur as torrential epistaxis when it extensively involves the facial region. Multi-imaging modalities are available to assist in characterizing the structure of the lesion as well as its location and extent. This complex disease requires a multidisciplinary team approach with preoperative embolization and surgery. We present a rare cause of life-threatening epistaxis in a gentleman with a longstanding orbital and hemifacial arteriovenous malformation and discuss the complexities involved in its management.