Surgical management of cerebral dural arteriovenous fistulae

Dural arteriovenous fistulae are high flow, low resistance intracranial vascular malformations defined by an aberrant connection between an artery and dural vein or sinus. Symptomatology and presentation are highly dependent on location, generally categorized as supratentorial, tentorial, or infratentorial, and consist primarily of sequelae secondary to local venous hypertension, insufficiency, and cortical venous reflux. Surgery is generally reserved for high risk or persistently symptomatic lesions that are unamenable or unresponsive to endovascular therapy. For surgical lesions, familiarity with skull base approaches, specific fistula anatomy, and technical nuances based on fistula location offer patients the best chance of a favorable outcome.