Although transvenous embolization (TVE) via the superior ophthalmic vein (SOV) is adopted in treating cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistula (CS DAVF), its effect on the coil volume is rarely understood. The purpose of the study was to investigate if there is a difference in the total number of coils used and in patient safety when comparing two access strategies. We retrospectively reviewed charts for patients with CS DAVF treated with TVE between January 2008 and March 2018. The baseline patient characteristics, details of procedure, placed coils, and clinical results were compared. A total of 42 patients with CS DAVF were treated with the inferior petrosal sinus (IPS) (n = 32) or SOV (n = 10) approach. TVE via SOV showed a high success rate of 100% (10/10) by transfemoral access. The total number (23 versus 11; P < 0.001), length (159 versus 81 cm; P = 0.003), and volume of placed coils (111 versus 46 mm3; P = 0.005) were significantly lower in patients treated via SOV. Patients treated via SOV had significantly higher initial intrasinus pressure (49 versus 59 mmHg; P = 0.022) obtained by microcatheters; however, no adverse events occurred related to elevated sinus pressure between both approaches. Procedural complications and cranial nerve palsy outcomes were not significantly different. In cases with a visualized pathway to the SOV, this approach should be preferred, in all other cases standard approach via the IPS should be used, even if it cannot be visualized.
Keywords: Cavernous sinus; Dural arteriovenous fistula; Facial vein; Superior ophthalmic vein; Transvenous embolization.