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Home : Clinical Services : Conditions/Diseases : AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation)

AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation)

Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) is a tangle of blood vessels in the brain, causing an abnormal connection between the arteries and veins. Oxygenated blood is pumped from the heart through branching arteries to the brain through a network of tiny capillaries. Veins carry blood with less oxygen from the brain back to the heart. A blood AVM contains abnormal, weakened blood vessels that dilate and may burst from the high pressure of the blood flow, causing bleeding into the brain. People are born with AVMs but do not necessarily inherit them from their parents.

Common symptoms once the AVM breaks:
  • Headaches
  • Seizures
  • Difficulty with speech, vision and movement

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