Spinal cord arteriovenous malformation during pregnancy (author's transl)]

On May 7, 1973, a 23-year-old female, para ii, gravida ii, suddenly developed severe chest pain at 10th month of her pregnancy and soon after became paraplegic with sensory impairment lower than the level of 5th thoracic nerve and urinary incontinence. On May 8, she was admitted to our clinic and 4 days after, labour was induced by Caesarean section. Myodil myelography demonstrated "worm like defects" at the level of Th4-Th5, but sabarachnoid block was not found. Selective spinal angiography showed the image of typical arteriovenous malformation at the level of Th2-Th6. On June 26, about 1.5 months after delivery total removal of arteriovenous malformation (from Th2 to Th6)) was performed by the use of operative microscope. 10 months after operation, the patient could walk with her baby in her arms and no urinary incontinence was seen. We discussed the clinical characteristics and the treatment of spinal cord arteriovenous malformation during pregnancy.