AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation) and Fistulae
An AVM is an abnormal, tangled web of blood vessels (arteries and veins) in the brain, brainstem or spinal cord. The difference between an artery and a vein is simple: arteries take blood away from the heart and veins take blood into the heart. Arteries have thick walls that allow blood to flow through at a high pressure. Veins have thin walls that allow blood to flow through at a much lower pressure.
When an AVM is present there is an abnormal tangle of veins and arteries. Usually one or more of the tangled arteries is directly connected to one or more veins, which can cause many problems. When a high pressure artery is directly connected to a low pressure vein the most serious problem is blood flowing through the vein at a higher pressure than the vein can handle. Veins cannot handle high pressure blood flow for an extended period of time; the walls of a vein are too weak to support high pressure blood flow from the artery that is connected to it. This abnormal connection between an artery and a vein create an AVM, which can rupture and bleed into the brain.
Treatment for AVM
AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation) and Fistulae
An AVM is an abnormal, tangled web of blood vessels (arteries and veins) in the brain, brainstem or spinal cord. The difference between an artery and a vein is simple: arteries take blood away from the heart and veins take blood into the heart. Arteries have thick walls that allow blood to flow through at a high pressure. Veins have thin walls that allow blood to flow through at a much lower pressure.
When an AVM is present there is an abnormal tangle of veins and arteries. Usually one or more of the tangled arteries is directly connected to one or more veins, which can cause many problems. When a high pressure artery is directly connected to a low pressure vein the most serious problem is blood flowing through the vein at a higher pressure than the vein can handle. Veins cannot handle high pressure blood flow for an extended period of time; the walls of a vein are too weak to support high pressure blood flow from the artery that is connected to it. This abnormal connection between an artery and a vein create an AVM, which can rupture and bleed into the brain.
Treatment for AVM