A 36-year-old member asked:
What sort of problem is an arteriovenous malformation?
4 doctor answers • 9 doctors weighed in

Dr. Pam Yoderanswered
Specializes in Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Vascular: I will refer this to experts in the blood vessels. Thanks for asking this important question.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Michael Chenanswered
Neurology 24 years experience
Brain blood vessel: Generally people are born with brain arteriovenous malformations (avm). If found by accident, any kind of treatment should be considered carefully and deliberately. Options include radiosurgery, embolization and resection. If there has been bleeding associated with the avm, some combination of endovascular embolization and surgical removal is necessary. Expert evaluation is highly recommended.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

A Verified Doctoranswered
Family Medicine 24 years experience
Other places: Another common location is in the colon, which can lead to intermittent rectal bleeding and sometimes requires treatment by cauterization.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

Dr. Tibor Becskeanswered
Neurology 33 years experience
Short circuit: An avm is a short circuit between arteries and veins without capillaries in-between. Depending on size, location, flow, and other characteristics, it can be silent or it can cause symptoms. Ultimately, it can bleed and be life threatening.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Last updated Jul 16, 2014
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