Glue, Onyx, Squid or PHIL? Liquid Embolic Agents for the Embolization of Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations and Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas

Background: Endovascular embolization is an effective treatment option for cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs). A variety of liquid embolic agents have been and are currently used for embolization of AVMs and DAVFs. Knowledge of the special properties of the agent which is used is crucial for an effective and safe embolization procedure.

Material and methods: This article describes the properties and indications of the liquid embolic agents which are currently available: cyanoacrylates (also called glues), and the copolymers Onyx, Squid and PHIL, as well as their respective subtypes.

Results: Cyanoacrylates were the predominantly used agents in the 1980s and 1990s. They are currently still used in specific situations, for example for the occlusion of macro-shunts, for the pressure cooker technique or in cases in which microcatheters are used that are not compatible with dimethyl-sulfoxide. The first broadly used copolymer-based embolic agent Onyx benefits from a large amount of available experience and data, which demonstrated its safety and efficacy in the treatment of cerebral vascular malformations, while its drawbacks include temporary loss of visibility during longer injections and artifacts in cross-sectional imaging. The more recently introduced agents Squid and PHIL aim to overcome these shortcomings and to improve the success rate of endovascular embolization. Novelties of these newer agents with potential advantages include extra-low viscosity versions, more stable visibility, and a lower degree of imaging artifacts.

Conclusion: All the available liquid embolic agents feature specific potential advantages and disadvantages over each other. The choice of the most appropriate embolic agent must be made based on the specific material characteristics of the agent, related to the specific anatomical characteristics of the target pathology.