Question 1

how is an avm diagnosed?

Accepted Answer

During endoscopy: Avm, or arterio-venous malformations, are found in the GI tract, and can be diagnosed with colonoscopy or upper endoscopy.

Question 2

how do you locate an avm?

Accepted Answer

Radiology: Ct angiogram
cerebral angiography
mri
mr angiography
these are all used to locate avm's.

Question 3

what are symptoms you have with an avm?

Accepted Answer

AVM SYMPTOMS: Avms can present with headaches and seizures while at least 15% of the population at detection have no symptoms.  Half of patients with avm present with hemorrhage as the first symptom. Symptoms due to bleeding include loss of consciousness, headache, nausea, vomiting, incontinence, speech, movement or sensory loss, and blurred vision.

Question 4

what is the difference between an avm and an aureysm?

Accepted Answer

AVM vs Aneurysm: An aneurysm is a blister of a blood vessel, usually at a point of branching.  These have a propensity to rupture and cause bleeding as they grow in size.
An avm is a malformation or tangle of blood vessels, usually with thin walls that have the potential of having  catestrophic bleeding.

Question 5

what do you recommend if i had a avm removed and still have pain?

Accepted Answer

Patience.: Unfortunately, removing AVMs only occasionally  helps with pain. AVMs are removed to reduce your bleeding risk in the future, not necessarily to help with other symptoms such as pain. That being said, sometimes symptoms such as pain improve with time. If you have concerns, speak with your physician.

Question 6

i had a avm removed and still have pain, what do you think is wrong?

Accepted Answer

See your doc: Many AVMs can recur if not completely removed. Your persistent pain may be related to this.

Question 7

what is spinal avm?

Accepted Answer

Complex Question: A spinal avm is a complex tangle of arteries and veins that occurs within the spinal cord.  It can be asymptomatic, or can cause neurologic deficits, rarely it can bleed and cause additional problems.

Question 8

what is the treatment for avm?

Accepted Answer

It depends: Avm is arterial venous malformation.  I assume you are concerned about this in the brain.  Large ones near the surface can be treated by direct removal.  Directed emboli can close off feeders.  Directed radiation can shrink some.  Deep lying types often need to be left alone.  Genetic types can be multiple including in the kidneys.  In children they can cause heart failure and seizures.

Question 9

is antidepressants bad if you have an avm?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily: It's true that ssri-type antidepressants are linked with slightly increased risk of bleeding -- most often in the GI tract, and especially when combined with Aspirin or nsaids.  Personally, i've seen one woman develop a petechial skin rash when she added baby Aspirin to prozac (fluoxetine).  But there is little evidence linking ssri's to intracerebral bleeding. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15794724.

Question 10

what to expect after radiosurgery for an avm?

Accepted Answer

Depends: Where the avm was, how large it was, and what problems it was causing you. In the lung, avms can result in large amounts of blood being shunted through the lung without oxygen. Embolization or radio surgery can close these shunts which might improve exercise tolerance.

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Doctor answers about:

Avm activity

A member asked:

How is an avm diagnosed?

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How do you locate an avm?

A member asked:

What are symptoms you have with an avm?

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What is the difference between an avm and an aureysm?

A member asked:

What do you recommend if i had a avm removed and still have pain?

A member asked:

I had a avm removed and still have pain, what do you think is wrong?

A member asked:

What is spinal avm?

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What is the treatment for avm?

A member asked:

Is antidepressants bad if you have an avm?

A member asked:

What to expect after radiosurgery for an avm?

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