Arteriovenous Fistula (AVF)

An arteriovenous fistula, or AVF, is located in the tissues around the brain or spinal cord.  An AVF is an abnormal area where one or more arteries directly join one or more veins.  Arteries carry blood from the heart to the tissues, and veins return blood back to the heart. 

AVFs push high-pressure blood from the arteries into the veins that drain blood from the brain or spinal cord.  This raises the pressure of the whole blood system around the brain or spinal cord.

Symptoms

There are 2 major types of AVFs. 

• Dural AVFs
• Carotid-cavernous fistulas (CCFs) 

People with dural AVFs usually hear a rumbling noise in one ear after each heartbeat. 

People with CCFs usually hear a rumbling noise in one ear. One or both eyes will also be swollen and red.

Both conditions develop later in life.  People are not born with them.  They can happen after an infection or injury.  Most develop without any specific event. 

Diagnosis

In the case of most AVFs, a CT and MRI scan will often look normal.  An angiogram is the best test to show an AVF and the objects around it. 

For an angiogram exam, your health care team injects a dye in your blood vessels. It will show images of the blood vessels in your brain. We can then look for an AVF.

Treatment

It is important to close an AVF before the pressure causes permanent damage to your brain or spinal cord.  There are 2 main treatments for AVF. It depends on your type of AVF which treatment you’ll have.

Endovascular embolization

This treatment cures most AVFs.  During this procedure, we place a catheter in an artery in your groin area.  The catheter is moved up the artery to the AVF.  The catheter injects a material into the arteries at the AVF.  This material shuts off arteries and lowers the flow of blood through the AVF.

Microsurgical resection

This surgery is for AVFs that cannot be closed with endovascular embolization.  During this surgery, a surgeon makes an opening in your skull.  The surgeon will use precise equipment to remove the AVF or isolate it from the tissues around it. The piece of skull that was taken out is then put back into place.

Arteriovenous Fistula (AVF)

An arteriovenous fistula, or AVF, is located in the tissues around the brain or spinal cord.  An AVF is an abnormal area where one or more arteries directly join one or more veins.  Arteries carry blood from the heart to the tissues, and veins return blood back to the heart. 

AVFs push high-pressure blood from the arteries into the veins that drain blood from the brain or spinal cord.  This raises the pressure of the whole blood system around the brain or spinal cord.

Symptoms

There are 2 major types of AVFs. 

• Dural AVFs
• Carotid-cavernous fistulas (CCFs) 

People with dural AVFs usually hear a rumbling noise in one ear after each heartbeat. 

People with CCFs usually hear a rumbling noise in one ear. One or both eyes will also be swollen and red.

Both conditions develop later in life.  People are not born with them.  They can happen after an infection or injury.  Most develop without any specific event. 

Diagnosis

In the case of most AVFs, a CT and MRI scan will often look normal.  An angiogram is the best test to show an AVF and the objects around it. 

For an angiogram exam, your health care team injects a dye in your blood vessels. It will show images of the blood vessels in your brain. We can then look for an AVF.

Treatment

It is important to close an AVF before the pressure causes permanent damage to your brain or spinal cord.  There are 2 main treatments for AVF. It depends on your type of AVF which treatment you’ll have.

Endovascular embolization

This treatment cures most AVFs.  During this procedure, we place a catheter in an artery in your groin area.  The catheter is moved up the artery to the AVF.  The catheter injects a material into the arteries at the AVF.  This material shuts off arteries and lowers the flow of blood through the AVF.

Microsurgical resection

This surgery is for AVFs that cannot be closed with endovascular embolization.  During this surgery, a surgeon makes an opening in your skull.  The surgeon will use precise equipment to remove the AVF or isolate it from the tissues around it. The piece of skull that was taken out is then put back into place.

Arteriovenous Fistula (AVF)

An arteriovenous fistula, or AVF, is located in the tissues around the brain or spinal cord.  An AVF is an abnormal area where one or more arteries directly join one or more veins.  Arteries carry blood from the heart to the tissues, and veins return blood back to the heart. 

AVFs push high-pressure blood from the arteries into the veins that drain blood from the brain or spinal cord.  This raises the pressure of the whole blood system around the brain or spinal cord.

Symptoms

There are 2 major types of AVFs. 

• Dural AVFs
• Carotid-cavernous fistulas (CCFs) 

People with dural AVFs usually hear a rumbling noise in one ear after each heartbeat. 

People with CCFs usually hear a rumbling noise in one ear. One or both eyes will also be swollen and red.

Both conditions develop later in life.  People are not born with them.  They can happen after an infection or injury.  Most develop without any specific event. 

Diagnosis

In the case of most AVFs, a CT and MRI scan will often look normal.  An angiogram is the best test to show an AVF and the objects around it. 

For an angiogram exam, your health care team injects a dye in your blood vessels. It will show images of the blood vessels in your brain. We can then look for an AVF.

Treatment

It is important to close an AVF before the pressure causes permanent damage to your brain or spinal cord.  There are 2 main treatments for AVF. It depends on your type of AVF which treatment you’ll have.

Endovascular embolization

This treatment cures most AVFs.  During this procedure, we place a catheter in an artery in your groin area.  The catheter is moved up the artery to the AVF.  The catheter injects a material into the arteries at the AVF.  This material shuts off arteries and lowers the flow of blood through the AVF.

Microsurgical resection

This surgery is for AVFs that cannot be closed with endovascular embolization.  During this surgery, a surgeon makes an opening in your skull.  The surgeon will use precise equipment to remove the AVF or isolate it from the tissues around it. The piece of skull that was taken out is then put back into place.

Arteriovenous Fistula (AVF)

An arteriovenous fistula, or AVF, is located in the tissues around the brain or spinal cord.  An AVF is an abnormal area where one or more arteries directly join one or more veins.  Arteries carry blood from the heart to the tissues, and veins return blood back to the heart. 

AVFs push high-pressure blood from the arteries into the veins that drain blood from the brain or spinal cord.  This raises the pressure of the whole blood system around the brain or spinal cord.

Symptoms

There are 2 major types of AVFs. 

• Dural AVFs
• Carotid-cavernous fistulas (CCFs) 

People with dural AVFs usually hear a rumbling noise in one ear after each heartbeat. 

People with CCFs usually hear a rumbling noise in one ear. One or both eyes will also be swollen and red.

Both conditions develop later in life.  People are not born with them.  They can happen after an infection or injury.  Most develop without any specific event. 

Diagnosis

In the case of most AVFs, a CT and MRI scan will often look normal.  An angiogram is the best test to show an AVF and the objects around it. 

For an angiogram exam, your health care team injects a dye in your blood vessels. It will show images of the blood vessels in your brain. We can then look for an AVF.

Treatment

It is important to close an AVF before the pressure causes permanent damage to your brain or spinal cord.  There are 2 main treatments for AVF. It depends on your type of AVF which treatment you’ll have.

Endovascular embolization

This treatment cures most AVFs.  During this procedure, we place a catheter in an artery in your groin area.  The catheter is moved up the artery to the AVF.  The catheter injects a material into the arteries at the AVF.  This material shuts off arteries and lowers the flow of blood through the AVF.

Microsurgical resection

This surgery is for AVFs that cannot be closed with endovascular embolization.  During this surgery, a surgeon makes an opening in your skull.  The surgeon will use precise equipment to remove the AVF or isolate it from the tissues around it. The piece of skull that was taken out is then put back into place.

Arteriovenous Fistula (AVF)

An arteriovenous fistula, or AVF, is located in the tissues around the brain or spinal cord.  An AVF is an abnormal area where one or more arteries directly join one or more veins.  Arteries carry blood from the heart to the tissues, and veins return blood back to the heart. 

AVFs push high-pressure blood from the arteries into the veins that drain blood from the brain or spinal cord.  This raises the pressure of the whole blood system around the brain or spinal cord.

Symptoms

There are 2 major types of AVFs. 

• Dural AVFs
• Carotid-cavernous fistulas (CCFs) 

People with dural AVFs usually hear a rumbling noise in one ear after each heartbeat. 

People with CCFs usually hear a rumbling noise in one ear. One or both eyes will also be swollen and red.

Both conditions develop later in life.  People are not born with them.  They can happen after an infection or injury.  Most develop without any specific event. 

Diagnosis

In the case of most AVFs, a CT and MRI scan will often look normal.  An angiogram is the best test to show an AVF and the objects around it. 

For an angiogram exam, your health care team injects a dye in your blood vessels. It will show images of the blood vessels in your brain. We can then look for an AVF.

Treatment

It is important to close an AVF before the pressure causes permanent damage to your brain or spinal cord.  There are 2 main treatments for AVF. It depends on your type of AVF which treatment you’ll have.

Endovascular embolization

This treatment cures most AVFs.  During this procedure, we place a catheter in an artery in your groin area.  The catheter is moved up the artery to the AVF.  The catheter injects a material into the arteries at the AVF.  This material shuts off arteries and lowers the flow of blood through the AVF.

Microsurgical resection

This surgery is for AVFs that cannot be closed with endovascular embolization.  During this surgery, a surgeon makes an opening in your skull.  The surgeon will use precise equipment to remove the AVF or isolate it from the tissues around it. The piece of skull that was taken out is then put back into place.

Arteriovenous Fistula (AVF)

An arteriovenous fistula, or AVF, is located in the tissues around the brain or spinal cord.  An AVF is an abnormal area where one or more arteries directly join one or more veins.  Arteries carry blood from the heart to the tissues, and veins return blood back to the heart. 

AVFs push high-pressure blood from the arteries into the veins that drain blood from the brain or spinal cord.  This raises the pressure of the whole blood system around the brain or spinal cord.

Symptoms

There are 2 major types of AVFs. 

• Dural AVFs
• Carotid-cavernous fistulas (CCFs) 

People with dural AVFs usually hear a rumbling noise in one ear after each heartbeat. 

People with CCFs usually hear a rumbling noise in one ear. One or both eyes will also be swollen and red.

Both conditions develop later in life.  People are not born with them.  They can happen after an infection or injury.  Most develop without any specific event. 

Diagnosis

In the case of most AVFs, a CT and MRI scan will often look normal.  An angiogram is the best test to show an AVF and the objects around it. 

For an angiogram exam, your health care team injects a dye in your blood vessels. It will show images of the blood vessels in your brain. We can then look for an AVF.

Treatment

It is important to close an AVF before the pressure causes permanent damage to your brain or spinal cord.  There are 2 main treatments for AVF. It depends on your type of AVF which treatment you’ll have.

Endovascular embolization

This treatment cures most AVFs.  During this procedure, we place a catheter in an artery in your groin area.  The catheter is moved up the artery to the AVF.  The catheter injects a material into the arteries at the AVF.  This material shuts off arteries and lowers the flow of blood through the AVF.

Microsurgical resection

This surgery is for AVFs that cannot be closed with endovascular embolization.  During this surgery, a surgeon makes an opening in your skull.  The surgeon will use precise equipment to remove the AVF or isolate it from the tissues around it. The piece of skull that was taken out is then put back into place.

Arteriovenous Fistula (AVF)

An arteriovenous fistula, or AVF, is located in the tissues around the brain or spinal cord.  An AVF is an abnormal area where one or more arteries directly join one or more veins.  Arteries carry blood from the heart to the tissues, and veins return blood back to the heart. 

AVFs push high-pressure blood from the arteries into the veins that drain blood from the brain or spinal cord.  This raises the pressure of the whole blood system around the brain or spinal cord.

Symptoms

There are 2 major types of AVFs. 

• Dural AVFs
• Carotid-cavernous fistulas (CCFs) 

People with dural AVFs usually hear a rumbling noise in one ear after each heartbeat. 

People with CCFs usually hear a rumbling noise in one ear. One or both eyes will also be swollen and red.

Both conditions develop later in life.  People are not born with them.  They can happen after an infection or injury.  Most develop without any specific event. 

Diagnosis

In the case of most AVFs, a CT and MRI scan will often look normal.  An angiogram is the best test to show an AVF and the objects around it. 

For an angiogram exam, your health care team injects a dye in your blood vessels. It will show images of the blood vessels in your brain. We can then look for an AVF.

Treatment

It is important to close an AVF before the pressure causes permanent damage to your brain or spinal cord.  There are 2 main treatments for AVF. It depends on your type of AVF which treatment you’ll have.

Endovascular embolization

This treatment cures most AVFs.  During this procedure, we place a catheter in an artery in your groin area.  The catheter is moved up the artery to the AVF.  The catheter injects a material into the arteries at the AVF.  This material shuts off arteries and lowers the flow of blood through the AVF.

Microsurgical resection

This surgery is for AVFs that cannot be closed with endovascular embolization.  During this surgery, a surgeon makes an opening in your skull.  The surgeon will use precise equipment to remove the AVF or isolate it from the tissues around it. The piece of skull that was taken out is then put back into place.

Arteriovenous Fistula (AVF)

An arteriovenous fistula, or AVF, is located in the tissues around the brain or spinal cord.  An AVF is an abnormal area where one or more arteries directly join one or more veins.  Arteries carry blood from the heart to the tissues, and veins return blood back to the heart. 

AVFs push high-pressure blood from the arteries into the veins that drain blood from the brain or spinal cord.  This raises the pressure of the whole blood system around the brain or spinal cord.

Symptoms

There are 2 major types of AVFs. 

• Dural AVFs
• Carotid-cavernous fistulas (CCFs) 

People with dural AVFs usually hear a rumbling noise in one ear after each heartbeat. 

People with CCFs usually hear a rumbling noise in one ear. One or both eyes will also be swollen and red.

Both conditions develop later in life.  People are not born with them.  They can happen after an infection or injury.  Most develop without any specific event. 

Diagnosis

In the case of most AVFs, a CT and MRI scan will often look normal.  An angiogram is the best test to show an AVF and the objects around it. 

For an angiogram exam, your health care team injects a dye in your blood vessels. It will show images of the blood vessels in your brain. We can then look for an AVF.

Treatment

It is important to close an AVF before the pressure causes permanent damage to your brain or spinal cord.  There are 2 main treatments for AVF. It depends on your type of AVF which treatment you’ll have.

Endovascular embolization

This treatment cures most AVFs.  During this procedure, we place a catheter in an artery in your groin area.  The catheter is moved up the artery to the AVF.  The catheter injects a material into the arteries at the AVF.  This material shuts off arteries and lowers the flow of blood through the AVF.

Microsurgical resection

This surgery is for AVFs that cannot be closed with endovascular embolization.  During this surgery, a surgeon makes an opening in your skull.  The surgeon will use precise equipment to remove the AVF or isolate it from the tissues around it. The piece of skull that was taken out is then put back into place.

Arteriovenous Fistula (AVF)

An arteriovenous fistula, or AVF, is located in the tissues around the brain or spinal cord.  An AVF is an abnormal area where one or more arteries directly join one or more veins.  Arteries carry blood from the heart to the tissues, and veins return blood back to the heart. 

AVFs push high-pressure blood from the arteries into the veins that drain blood from the brain or spinal cord.  This raises the pressure of the whole blood system around the brain or spinal cord.

Symptoms

There are 2 major types of AVFs. 

• Dural AVFs
• Carotid-cavernous fistulas (CCFs) 

People with dural AVFs usually hear a rumbling noise in one ear after each heartbeat. 

People with CCFs usually hear a rumbling noise in one ear. One or both eyes will also be swollen and red.

Both conditions develop later in life.  People are not born with them.  They can happen after an infection or injury.  Most develop without any specific event. 

Diagnosis

In the case of most AVFs, a CT and MRI scan will often look normal.  An angiogram is the best test to show an AVF and the objects around it. 

For an angiogram exam, your health care team injects a dye in your blood vessels. It will show images of the blood vessels in your brain. We can then look for an AVF.

Treatment

It is important to close an AVF before the pressure causes permanent damage to your brain or spinal cord.  There are 2 main treatments for AVF. It depends on your type of AVF which treatment you’ll have.

Endovascular embolization

This treatment cures most AVFs.  During this procedure, we place a catheter in an artery in your groin area.  The catheter is moved up the artery to the AVF.  The catheter injects a material into the arteries at the AVF.  This material shuts off arteries and lowers the flow of blood through the AVF.

Microsurgical resection

This surgery is for AVFs that cannot be closed with endovascular embolization.  During this surgery, a surgeon makes an opening in your skull.  The surgeon will use precise equipment to remove the AVF or isolate it from the tissues around it. The piece of skull that was taken out is then put back into place.

Arteriovenous Fistula (AVF)

An arteriovenous fistula, or AVF, is located in the tissues around the brain or spinal cord.  An AVF is an abnormal area where one or more arteries directly join one or more veins.  Arteries carry blood from the heart to the tissues, and veins return blood back to the heart. 

AVFs push high-pressure blood from the arteries into the veins that drain blood from the brain or spinal cord.  This raises the pressure of the whole blood system around the brain or spinal cord.

Symptoms

There are 2 major types of AVFs. 

• Dural AVFs
• Carotid-cavernous fistulas (CCFs) 

People with dural AVFs usually hear a rumbling noise in one ear after each heartbeat. 

People with CCFs usually hear a rumbling noise in one ear. One or both eyes will also be swollen and red.

Both conditions develop later in life.  People are not born with them.  They can happen after an infection or injury.  Most develop without any specific event. 

Diagnosis

In the case of most AVFs, a CT and MRI scan will often look normal.  An angiogram is the best test to show an AVF and the objects around it. 

For an angiogram exam, your health care team injects a dye in your blood vessels. It will show images of the blood vessels in your brain. We can then look for an AVF.

Treatment

It is important to close an AVF before the pressure causes permanent damage to your brain or spinal cord.  There are 2 main treatments for AVF. It depends on your type of AVF which treatment you’ll have.

Endovascular embolization

This treatment cures most AVFs.  During this procedure, we place a catheter in an artery in your groin area.  The catheter is moved up the artery to the AVF.  The catheter injects a material into the arteries at the AVF.  This material shuts off arteries and lowers the flow of blood through the AVF.

Microsurgical resection

This surgery is for AVFs that cannot be closed with endovascular embolization.  During this surgery, a surgeon makes an opening in your skull.  The surgeon will use precise equipment to remove the AVF or isolate it from the tissues around it. The piece of skull that was taken out is then put back into place.

Arteriovenous Fistula (AVF)

An arteriovenous fistula, or AVF, is located in the tissues around the brain or spinal cord.  An AVF is an abnormal area where one or more arteries directly join one or more veins.  Arteries carry blood from the heart to the tissues, and veins return blood back to the heart. 

AVFs push high-pressure blood from the arteries into the veins that drain blood from the brain or spinal cord.  This raises the pressure of the whole blood system around the brain or spinal cord.

Symptoms

There are 2 major types of AVFs. 

• Dural AVFs
• Carotid-cavernous fistulas (CCFs) 

People with dural AVFs usually hear a rumbling noise in one ear after each heartbeat. 

People with CCFs usually hear a rumbling noise in one ear. One or both eyes will also be swollen and red.

Both conditions develop later in life.  People are not born with them.  They can happen after an infection or injury.  Most develop without any specific event. 

Diagnosis

In the case of most AVFs, a CT and MRI scan will often look normal.  An angiogram is the best test to show an AVF and the objects around it. 

For an angiogram exam, your health care team injects a dye in your blood vessels. It will show images of the blood vessels in your brain. We can then look for an AVF.

Treatment

It is important to close an AVF before the pressure causes permanent damage to your brain or spinal cord.  There are 2 main treatments for AVF. It depends on your type of AVF which treatment you’ll have.

Endovascular embolization

This treatment cures most AVFs.  During this procedure, we place a catheter in an artery in your groin area.  The catheter is moved up the artery to the AVF.  The catheter injects a material into the arteries at the AVF.  This material shuts off arteries and lowers the flow of blood through the AVF.

Microsurgical resection

This surgery is for AVFs that cannot be closed with endovascular embolization.  During this surgery, a surgeon makes an opening in your skull.  The surgeon will use precise equipment to remove the AVF or isolate it from the tissues around it. The piece of skull that was taken out is then put back into place.