Ruptured cervical arteriovenous fistulas presenting with subarachnoid hemorrhage and quadriplegia: an uncommon case

[Perimedullary arteriovenous fistula. Case report and literature review]

Arteriovenous fistula is a common vascular abnormality of spinal cord and meninges. This disease is more common in young men. Clinical manifestation includes progressive sensitive and motor disorders. However, acute symptoms including impaired consciousness, head or back pain are also possible. The authors describe a rare case. A 15-year-old boy experienced acute depression of consciousness accompanied by headache, vomiting, weakness in the upper limbs and sensitive disorders. The patient was hospitalized to the intensive care unit and examined for subarachnoid hemorrhage. MRI of the head and cervical spine and direct invasive angiography were performed. Perimedullary AVF of cervical spinal cord was diagnosed. Complete clinical regression was observed within a month. Microsurgical removal of AVF was performed in scheduled fashion. Postoperative follow-up period was over 6 months.

Spontaneous Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in a Patient with a Co-Existent Posterior Communicating Artery Aneurysm and Cervical Spine Aneurysm Associated with Ventral Arterio-Venous Fistula

Severe spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is predominantly caused by aneurysm rupture, with non-aneurysmal vascular lesions representing only a minority of possible causes. We present the case of a 58-year old lady with a coincidental posterior communicating artery (PCom) aneurysm and a high cervical spine arterio-venous fistula associated with a small ruptured aneurysm. After the emergency clipping of the PCom aneurysm, additional diagnostic procedures—repeated digital subtraction angiography and spinal magnetic resonance imaging, revealed the actual cause of the SAH, a type-A ventral intradural fistula at cervical level C2/3. The fistula was treated micro surgically via a ventral approach using C3 somatectomy and C2-4 stabilization after the initial failure of endovascular therapy. Furthermore, the patient was treated for complications associated with severe SAH, including acute hydrocephalus and meningitis. In cases where the SAH pattern and perioperative findings do not suggest an intracranial aneurysm as the source of SAH, further diagnostic investigation is warranted to discover the real cause. Patients with severe non-aneurysmal SAH require a similar algorithm in diagnosing the cause of the hemorrhage as well as complex conditions such as ruptured aneurysms.

Clinical Problem-Solving: Aneurysm or Spinal Arteriovenous Fistula—Bait and Switch

OBJECTIVE:

The authors use an instructive case to review the challenges of diagnosis in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and to reinforce the nuances of clinical management.

IMPORTANCE:

The presented case highlights critical issues in patient selection and challenges in the diagnosis of SAH and the management of both aneurysmal and arteriovenous fistula-related SAH. The critical points in decision making and diagnosis are discussed, and the case is accompanied by a brief review of the literature on the issues being faced.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION:

The present case is a patient presenting with SAH who was found to have an anterior communicating artery aneurysm. However, clues in the presentation and workup point to another etiology.

CONCLUSION:

A strong history of sudden neck pain before headache and abundance of SAH along the brainstem mandates a need to thoroughly evaluate the source of hemorrhage from cervical vessels through an angiogram.