Abstract
Background: Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and fistulas (AVFs) are rare vascular disorders, in which embolization is the first line treatment frequently associated to an adjunctive surgery for superficial and facial localizations. The aim of this study was to report our experience in embolization of high flow peripheral AVMs with onyx. Method(s): 5 women and 4 men were treated by percutaneous embolization with onyx, in our institute from January 2016 to June 2017 for superficial facial high flow vascular malformation. 3 patients were treated for acute bleeding and 6 patients for esthetic purpose. Patients were followed at 1, 3 and 12 months. Clinically symptoms, bleeding and esthetic improvement were assessed. Result(s): During this period we have embolized in our department 1 AVFs (Houdart type I) and 8 AVMs: 6 type ii and 2 type III (Houdart classification). Complete occlusion of the malformation in one session was achieved in 5 patients, and 1 patient needed a second session. 2 patients suffered from bruits which had totally disappeared immediately after embolization. Bleeding was controlled in all patients, and esthetic improvement was achieved at one month in 3 patients (labial AVM), and the 3 other at 3 months. None of our patients underwent surgery after embolization. No major complications were recorded. Conclusion(s): Onyx embolization for superficial facial high flow malformation is an effective and safe therapy, could be an option for first and only line treatment in non-complex lesions. Publication Date: 11 May 2021 (online) © 2019. The Arab Journal of Interventional Radiology. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd. A-12, 2nd Floor, Sector 2, Noida-201301 UP, India