For over six months, Mai, a 44-year-old woman, had been experiencing strange noises in her head that led to tinnitus and insomnia. After visiting the doctor, it was discovered that she had a complex cerebral vascular malformation. Magnetic resonance imaging at Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City revealed a dural arteriovenous fistula in the right transverse sigmoid sinus, measuring about 4×2 cm.
On April 12th, Dr. Thi Van Ginger, the Head of the Interventional Imaging Unit, conducted an endovascular intervention to block the fistula. This condition occurs when the arteries and veins in the brain are abnormally connected, causing symptoms such as tinnitus and difficulty sleeping. The intervention involved inserting a small needle into the femoral artery, threading a microcatheter to the brain, and using specialized materials to block the fistula.
During the intervention, Dr. Ginger carefully selected blood vessels to ensure the correct blocking of the fistula while preserving venous sinuses. Ms. Mai was awake throughout the procedure and could communicate with the doctor if she felt discomfort. After the intervention, almost all of her symptoms were gone.
Tinnitus is a condition where sounds are heard without any external noise. Dr. Nguyen Thi Minh Duc from the Center for Neuroscience explained that blood vessel abnormalities in the brain can cause tinnitus. Magnetic resonance imaging can easily detect such abnormalities without the need for contrast agents.
Overall, this successful intervention at Tam Anh General Hospital highlights how important it is to detect and treat vascular abnormalities in
