Study design
This study was a retrospective cohort analysis of 207 patients with DAVFs-DVD who were hospitalized at a single medical center between 2002 and 2022. The current investigation rigorously conformed to the Strengthening the Reporting of Cohort, Cross-Sectional, and Case–Control Studies in Surgery 2021 (STROCSS 2021,Supplemental Digital Content 1, http://links.lww.com/JS9/B513) guidelines, as delineated for observational research endeavors.13 This retrospective study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06543472). Given the retrospective nature of the study, the requirement for informed consent was appropriately waived. Relevant data were obtained from digital medical records, with all personally identifiable information, including names, addresses, and social security numbers, removed and replaced by unique codes to ensure that the data could not be traced back to individual patients.
Data Acquisition and Analysis
The collected data included patient demographics, clinical presentation, DAVF location, feeding arteries, drainage patterns, Borden/Cognard classification, treatment modalities, angiographic outcomes, procedure-related complications, and follow-up information. Flow related symptoms were defined as symptoms related to increased venous drainage, including tinnitus, bruits, chemosis/proptosis, ophthalmoplegia/diplopia, and isolated headaches not attributable to hemorrhage. Non-hemorrhagic neurological deficits (NHNDs) were defined as focal or global neurological deficits resulting from venous hypertension. NHNDs encompassed cognitive impairment, seizures, ataxia, sensory and motor deficits, aphasia/dysarthria, cranial nerve palsies (excluding cranial nerves III, IV, and VI), and hydrocephalus. Cognitive impairment included recently diagnosed symptoms or a sudden worsening of subacute symptoms, leading to impaired cognitive function, psychiatric disturbances, impaired language production, and episodes of altered consciousness. The presence of a congestive pseudophlebitic appearance was noted as cortical venous strain.14 Various angiographic characteristics were collected, including the number of arterial feeders, the number of draining veins, and the presence of sinus stenosis/occlusion or sinus/venous ectasia. DAVFs-DVDs are classified into two categories: the Galenic group, where arterial feeders drain directly into the VoG, and the non-Galenic group, where arterial feeders drain into other veins or venous sinuses and indirectly flow into the VoG (Fig. 1). Since all the included cases involved DAVFs-DVD, the resulting cognitive impairment can be classified as the thalamic variant of cognitive impairment.4,8
Follow-up and outcomes
All forms of patient monitoring, including admissions, outpatient visits, and telephone follow-ups, were considered. Radiological follow-up was limited to digital subtraction angiography (DSA) imaging. Follow-up duration was defined as the period from the last treatment to the most recent DAVF-related follow-up. The primary outcome was determined by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at the final clinical follow-up.
Clinical data and angiographic images were reviewed by three neurosurgeons (X.S., X.Y.L., and Z.H.S.). Additionally, three experienced neurosurgeons (Y.J.M., H.Q.Z., and P.Z.) independently verified the embolization outcomes, angioarchitecture, and DSA follow-up imaging. Any disagreements were resolved through discussion.
Statistical analysis
All statistical analyses were conducted using R (version 4.2.3). Baseline characteristics were compared between the Galenic and Non-Galenic group. Continuous variables were compared using Student’s t-test or Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, while categorical variables were compared using Pearson’s χ² or Fisher’s exact tests, as appropriate. Univariate analysis was performed to evaluate covariates predictive of cognitive impairment. Factors identified as significant in the univariate analysis (P < 0.05) were subsequently included in multivariate logistic regression models for cognitive impairment. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05, and all tests were two-tailed. Missing data were not imputed.