Brain Aneurysm Arteriovenous Malformation AVM Treatment | South Denver Neurosurgery | Littleton, CO

Neurovascular disorders or brain (cerebral) aneurysms are a bulging, weak area in the wall of an artery that supplies blood to the brain. A brain aneurysm causes no symptoms and goes unnoticed until it ruptures, releasing blood into the skull and causing a type of stroke.

Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)
Brain Aneurysm 

Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)

Arteriovenous Malformations are abnormal networks of arteries and veins found rarely in the brain and elsewhere in the body. In the brain, AVM's are generally though to be congenital (condition from birth) , and many AVM's cause no symptoms throughout a patient's lifetime. However, because the vessels involved in the AVM are abnormal in structure, they are prone to leakage and can present with many different sypmtoms including headache, seizure or loss of consciousness. Learn more about AVM's...

AVM Diagnosis and Evaluation - consists of several imaging studies, usually including angiography (contrast blood vessel study.)

AVM Treatment options include:

• Conservative management - no treatment
• Interventional Treatment - A procedure involving specialize glue or coils being placed into the AVM through blood vessels.
• Surgical Resection
• Radiosurgery

Larger AVM's may require a combination of treatment options.

Prognosis - excellent in most cases, especially if the AVM can be completely obliterated with the treatment options.

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Brain Aneurysm

A brain (cerebral) aneurysm is a bulging, weak area in the wall of an artery that supplies blood to the brain. A brain aneurysm causes no symptoms and goes unnoticed until it ruptures, releasing blood into the skull and causing a type of stroke.

When a brain aneurysm ruptures, the result is called a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Depending on the severity of the hemorrhage, brain damage or death may result.

The most common location for brain aneurysms is in the network of blood vessels at the base of the brain called the circle of Willis.

Most often, aneurysms occur for no apparent reason. Rarely, however, a person may inherit the tendency to form aneurysms, or aneurysms may develop because of hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and aging. Some risk factors that can lead to brain aneurysms can be controlled; others can't. Learn more about brain aneurysms...

 
The following risk factors may increase your risk of developing an aneurysm or, if you already have an aneurysm, of it rupturing:

• Family history. People with a family history of brain aneurysms are twice as likely to have an aneurysm as those who don't.
• Previous aneurysm. About 20% of patients with brain aneurysms have more than one.
• Gender. Women are twice as likely to develop a brain aneurysm or suffer a subarachnoid hemorrhage as men.
• Race. African-Americans have twice as many subarachnoid hemorrhages as whites.
• Hypertension. The risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage is greater in people with a history of high blood pressure (hypertension).
• Smoking. In addition to being a cause of hypertension, the use of cigarettes may increase the chances of a brain aneurysm rupturing.

Brain Aneurysm Treatment - Not all aneurysms require treatment if they are low risk and found before they rupture. Others require:

• Coiling - placing metal coils in the aneurysm through the blood vessels.
• Surgical Cupping - A procedure that prevents blood from entering the aneurysm using a metal clip.

Colorado Brain Aneurysm Foundation

In an effort to help educate community members, patients and their families, Littleton Adventist Hospital, in conjunction with South Denver Neurosurgery, formed the Colorado Brain Aneurysm Foundation. The foundation serves as a public education forum and support group to generate an increased awareness of this silent killer. Additionally, group sessions will offer patients and their families a better understanding of treatment options and what to expect during recovery from a brain aneurysm..

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