Dural Arteriovenous Fistula (DAVF)

A dural arteriovenous fistula is an abnormal connection between arteries and veins that occur along the inner lining of the skull. DAVFs can cause headaches, pulsatile tinnitus, seizures, eye redness and swelling, vision problems, headaches or seizures. Some high-risk DAVFs can cause life-threatening bleeds.

The best treatment for DAVF is endovascular embolization with Onyx. Onyx is a co-polymer that can be injected into a blood vessels via a special catheter. When injected it is in liquid form, but it turns into a solid plastic over the course of several minutes after contact with blood, and allows the “plugging up” of the abnormal connections between arteries and veins. Successful and safe treatment of DAVFs is possible only with in-depth understanding of the vascular anatomy of the brain and skull, a unique skill of interventional neuroradiologists at Hoag.