Treatments
AVM/Venous Malformation
AVM/Venous Malformation Treatments
An arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is an abnormal tangle of blood vessels connecting arteries and veins, which disrupts normal blood flow and oxygen circulation.
Arteries are responsible for taking oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the brain. Veins carry the oxygen-depleted blood back to the lungs and heart.
Symptoms
Symptoms of AVM vary based on where it’s located. Often the first signs and symptoms appear after bleeding occurs. Besides bleeding, signs and symptoms can include:
- Progressive loss of neurological function
- Headaches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Seizures
- Loss of consciousness
Other possible signs and symptoms include:
- Weak muscles
- Paralysis in one part of the body
- Loss of coordination that can cause problems with gait
- Problems performing tasks that require planning
- Weakness in the lower extremities
- Back pain
- Dizziness
- Vision problems, including losing part of your field of vision, loss of control of eye movements, or swelling of part of the optic nerve
- Problems with speech or understanding language
- Unusual sensations including numbness, tingling or sudden pain
- Memory loss or dementia
- Hallucinations
- Confusion
Complications
The most common complications of an AVM are bleeding and seizures. If left untreated, the bleeding can cause significant neurological damage and be fatal.
