Detecting ‘plexus’ of blood vessels causing cerebral infarction

According to Viet Duc Friendship Hospital (Hanoi), normally, arteries are responsible for carrying oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the brain, while veins have the opposite role, returning oxygen-depleted blood back to the lungs and heart.

Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a tangle of abnormal blood vessels that connect arteries and veins in the brain, without passing through the capillary network, thereby disrupting “transportation”. blood.

AVMs can develop anywhere in the body but most commonly occur in the brain or spinal cord. However, brain AVMs are rare and affect less than 1% of the population.

The cause of AVM is not well understood. Most people are born with them, but they can sometimes form later in a person’s life.

An AVM may not cause any signs or symptoms until it ruptures, resulting in bleeding in the brain.

Only 1–3% of brain AVMs rupture, but bleeding is the first sign in 50% of patients with AVMs. Many patients are diagnosed by physical examination or by other problems unrelated to the malformation, such as traumatic brain injury.

Some other symptoms of AVM that may appear are: convulsions, headache, weakness, difficulty speaking, blurred vision, confusion. Symptoms can begin at any age but usually appear between the ages of 10 and 40.

AVM can cause the phenomenon of “brain theft” that prevents the supply of nutrients to brain cells, thereby forming cerebral infarction. Viet Duc Friendship Hospital

Brain AVMs can damage brain tissue over time. The effects build up slowly and often cause symptoms in early adulthood. However, as you reach middle age, brain AVMs tend to remain stable and cause fewer symptoms.

AVM can cause the phenomenon of “brain theft” because the blood flow is directed to “feed” the malformation instead of providing nutrients to brain cells, thereby forming cerebral infarction.

To diagnose AVM, your doctor will base your symptoms on a physical and neurological exam. Today’s imaging tools are very popular in Vietnam. Cerebral angiography, cerebral magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography can all diagnose.

According to doctors, treatment of AVM depends on the location, size and vascular structure of the malformation, in addition to the clinical assessment of the patient, the status of the AVM (broken or unbroken).

Treatments range from surgery, embolization, radiation therapy, medication to relieve symptoms or simply monitoring.

Experts recommend people to seek medical attention or go to the nearest medical facility as soon as they see themselves or a loved one with the symptoms mentioned above. AVM is a completely curable disease. Many patients after surgery can return to normal life, but if they come to the hospital at a late stage, it can leave behind scars. sequelae very heavy.