Arteriovenous Malformation

Arteriovenous Malformation

It is a condition in which abnormal connection made between arteries and veins and interfere the normal blood flow and oxygen impairment. Arteries carry the oxygenated blood from heart to the other organs and veins carries the deoxygenated blood from lungs to heart. It can develop anywhere in the body.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of AVM include:Arteriovenous Malformation

  • Loss of consciousness
  • Seizures
  • Nausea
  • Headaches
  • Bleeding
  • Neurological impairment
  • Back pain
  • Dizziness
  • Paralysis unilaterally
  • Weakness
  • Confusion
Causes

Exact cause of AVM is still unknown but it may assume that certain factors play their role in development of AVM like genetic predisposition, environment toxic effects. Most often they are genetically run in the families.

Complications

Bleeding is the main complication of AVM. If left untreated then it causes a significant neurological damage.

Diagnosis

After taking a medical history and perform a physical examination your doctor might recommend the following tests:

  • CT scan of the brain and spinal cord to check the site of bleeding.
  • Cerebral angiography to see the condition of vessels in brain.
  • MRI for detail image of brain
  • Doppler ultrasound to check the blood pressure in the vessels.
Treatment

Treatment of AVM depends on the severity of condition, sometime it only required monitorization sometime certain factors decides which treatment option will be helpful, factors include:

  • If AVM is bled
  • Site of AVM
  • Size of AVM

Medications only relive the symptoms like control the seizure by anti-epileptic drugs and reduce the pain by painkiller.

Surgery is the major option to treat AVM. The type of surgery which is required to treat AVM called endovascular embolization.

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