Arterio Venous Malformation

Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) is a tangle of arteries and veins which get connected to each other instead of the capillaries in between. Arteries carry oxygenated blood to all parts of the body with great flow. This blood passes from the arteries into thin capillaries where the blood flow is greatly reduced. The walls of the capillaries are porous and they supply oxygen to the surrounding brain tissue through these porous walls. In AVM these capillaries are bypassed and thus oxygen supply to the brain tissue is reduced. This causes damage to the brain. The high pressure of the blood moving from the arteries into the veins can weaken the walls of the blood vessels and can result in either a haemorrhage or formation of an aneurysm.

AVM's are mostly present at the time of birth but do not show any symptoms during the early childhood and therefore go unnoticed. The AVM's are mostly diagnosed accidently when the brain scan is done for any other problem. As seen by Dr Jaspreet Singh Randhawa at Medisyn Clinic and IVY Hospital Mohali, the symptoms of AVM can include headache, seizures, muscle weakness, vision loss, body imbalance etc.

Diagnosis & Treatment

Cerebral Angiography which is done on a Cathlab is the best test to diagnose AVM. The test reveals the location and characterstics of the feeding arteries and draining veins which helps in planning the treatment. In this test the neurosurgeon will insert a catheter into the femoral artery of your leg and move the catheter into the brain inside the artery using the cathlab images for guidance. Alternatively a CT Scan or better still an MRI can provide excellent information and that too without admitting to the hospital. Both CT Scan and MRI are non-invasive procedures unlike Cerebral Angiography.

The best treatment for AVM under Dr Jaspreet Singh at Ivy Hospital in Mohali, Punjab is to surgically remove the interconnected arteries and veins. If the AVM is located in a part of the brain which can be easily accessed by the neurosurgeon then this type of surgery is the preferred and the best option. However if the AVM is located deep inside the brain then endovascular coiling is a better option. In this the our neurosurgeon Dr Randhawa will use a catheter which is inserted through the femoral artery on the leg and then coils are used to block the passage between the arteries and the veins. Stereotactic Radiosurgery in which focused radiation is used to block the connection between the arteries and veins is a non invasive treatment option.

Best Doctors and Cost

Dr Jaspreet Singh Randhawa is one of the best trained and highly qualified neurosurgeon for doing Arterio Venous Malformation Surgery at Ivy Hospital in Mohali, Punjab. The cost of Arterio Venous Malformation Surgery at Ivy Hospital, Mohali in Punjab is Rs. 2.5 - 3.0 lacs depending upon the type of the surgery. Endovascular surgery normally costs more than the open surgery. Ivy hospital has the best quality of Cath Lab to perform endovascular coiling surgery for AVM. The hospital also has the most advanced neuro microscope to carry out open surgery with high level of precision. In endovascular surgery, the hospital stay is 2-3 days. In open surgery the hospital stay is 5-7 days and the patient is called to the hospital for removal of stitches 15 days after the surgery. If you have an individual health insurance policy then this surgery is covered after a period of 2 years from the date of inception of the policy. However if you are a beneficiary of company given policy then the surgery is covered from day one. Always go through the terms of your health insurance policy like room rent capping and co-payment to avoid any kind of financial shocks later on.