J Korean Radiol Soc.  1992 Jun;28(3):356-360.

Amytal test in embolization of brain arteriovenous malformation

• Han KS
• Kim SY
• Park BH

Abstract

Is superselective embolization of the brain AVMs, the possibilities of adjacent normal brain tissue damage necessitates preembolic evaluation. The authors performed the Sodium Amytal test on 15 patients with brain AVMs. In the AVM patients with negative Amytal test(30 cases), all patients showed normal pattern on EEG and neurologic examinations after embolization Among the five patients with positive Amytal test, three cases showed neurologic deficit and the others two didn't. In eleven patients. Repeated embolization without the Amytal test were done. Among them, 5 cases showed neurlogic deficit and the others were quite normal. In conclusion, the Amytal test is a useful method of evaluation of the risk to damage normal brain tissue which are supplied by superselected feeding vessels. Combining the EEG with this test is a sensitive and objective method in evaluating patients following the Amytal test. And it is essential to performed the Amytal test for repeat embolization procedures.

MeSH Terms

Amobarbital*
Arteriovenous Malformations*
Brain*
Electroencephalography
Humans
Methods
Neurologic Examination
Neurologic Manifestations
Amobarbital