Call us today
Contact us to learn more about our Vascular Anomalies Clinic or to schedule an appointment.
An arteriovenous malformation (AVM) has a direct communication between arteries and veins (i.e. blood is shunted directly from an artery to a vein without being utilized by the body.) Arteriovenous malformations are the least common vascular anomaly, but are potentially the most troublesome because of the rapid flow of blood through the malformation.
Arteriovenous malformations are most commonly located on the head and neck, but they can be present anywhere on the body. They may be visible at birth or can become visible later in life. Arteriovenous malformations characteristically worsen around puberty. Trauma and pregnancy can also cause worsening of arteriovenous malformations.
Arteriovenous malformations increase the workload on your heart because blood is pumped through the malformation without being utilized. This can lead to shortness of breath, poor exercise tolerance, and congestive heart failure. Ulcerations on the skin, and necrosis of surrounding skin or other tissues can also occur. Arteriovenous malformations can also be a marker of underlying problems in the central nervous system including the brain and the spine. We treat multiple complicated syndromes associated with arteriovenous malformations including but not limited to: Cobb syndrome, Bonnet-Dechaume-Blanc syndrome, Parkes Weber syndrome, and capillary malformation-arteriovenous malformation (CM-AVM.)
Specific treatment of arteriovenous malformations will be determined by your child's doctor based on:
Treatment may include:
Connect with us:
Download our App: