Early and long-term excess mortality in 227 patients with intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas.

Object The aim of this study was to assess the early and long-term excess mortality in patients with intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) compared with a matched general Finnish population in an unselected, population-based series. Methods The authors identified 227 patients with DAVFs admitted to 2 of the 5 Departments of Neurosurgery in Finland—Helsinki and Kuopio University Hospitals—between 1944 and 2006. All patients were followed until death or the end of 2009. Long-term excess mortality was estimated using the relative survival ratio compared with the general Finnish population matched by age, sex, and calendar year. Results The median follow-up period was 10 years (range 0–44 years). Two-thirds (67%) of the DAVFs were located in the region of transverse and sigmoid sinuses. Cortical venous drainage (CVD) was present in 28% of the DAVFs (18% transverse and sigmoid sinus, 42% others). Of the 61 deaths counted, 11 (18%) were during the first 12 months and were mainly caused by treatment co...