Indication, technique and benefit of intraoperative spinal digital subtraction angiography with a new setting in a patient with spinal arteriovenous malformation.

Background and object: A new setting of intraoperative spinal angiography within an angiography suite is presented.

Patient and methods: In a patient with thoracic arteriovenous malformation, the resection was performed within an angiography suite. Therefore a long sheath was applied, which remained sterile during the procedure and allowed a catheter to be introduced which is navigated into the noted segmental artery for contrast injection.

Results: Digital subtraction angiography was performed prior to and after the resection at the AVM in order to visualize recent feeders and to ensure the complete occlusion.

Conclusions: This method leads to an increased image quality and a shorter operation time in comparison to an angiography within an operating room.