Introduction: The optimal timing for treatment of ruptured brain arteriovenous malformation (BAVM) is still controversial. The present study aims to determine safety of subacute BAVM management in clinically stable patients by identifying the rate of rebleeding.
Methods: Patients presenting from 2000 to 2018 with ruptured BAVM who were scheduled for BAVM treatment at least 4 weeks after initial hemorrhage were included in the present study. After neurological rehabilitation of the patient and decreased hemorrhage-induced brain swelling, subacute treatment for the ruptured BAVM was carried out. Primary outcome of the present series was defined as treatment failure resulting from rehemorrhage caused by the ruptured BAVM in patients previously labeled eligible for subacute BAVM treatment. Additionally, we performed a systematic review of the contemporary peer-reviewed literature concerning treatment strategy in patients with ruptured BAVM.
Results: Fifty-five patients suffering from ruptured BAVM were considered eligible for subacute BAVM treatment at our institution. No patient suffered from early rebleeding before definitive BAVM treatment in our institutional group. Our own patient data were then pooled with data from the literature, resulting in 166 patients suffering from ruptured BAVM who underwent subacute BAVM treatment. Of these, 1 patient (0.6%) suffered from rehemorrhage during the recovery period 130 days after initial BAVM rupture.
Conclusions: The present series and systematic review revealed a rehemorrhage rate of 0.6% in patients suffering from ruptured BAVM who underwent subacute treatment. Therefore, subacute treatment of patients with ruptured BAVM seems safe after application of rigorous treatment algorithms to sort out patients with higher risk for rehemorrhage.
Keywords: Brain arteriovenous malformation; Rebleeding; Subacute management.
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