Transvenous occlusion of a dural cavernous sinus fistula using a new expandable hydrogel-platinum coil (Hydrocoil®)

Hydrogel-coated platinum coils (Hydrocoils®) are currently under clinical investigation for their efficacy to improve anatomic results of endovascular occlusion of cerebral aneurysms. A case is presented in which this new expandable coil type was added to bare platinum coils in order to accelerate the transvenous occlusion of a dural cavernous sinus fistula (DCSF). A 53-year-old woman presenting with mild left-sided eye redness and diplopia due to a DCSF (type D) underwent transvenous occlusion using bare platinum coils (Trufill®) and hydrogel coated coils (Hydrocoil®). After successful catherization of the cavernous sinus, bare platinum coils were densely packed and eventually combined with Hydrocoils® which resulted in immediate and complete occlusion of the fistula. No technical or clinical complication occurred. The new expansile hydrogel-coated platinum coil (Hydrocoil®) can be successfully combined with bare platinum coils to accelerate transvenous occlusion of an AV-shunting lesion. Controlled volume expansion after deployment of this device offers potential benefits for occlusion of dural arteriovenous fistulas in other locations or for parent vessel occlusions in the treatment of giant or large complex aneurysms.