Embolization of a cerebellar AV malformation?

Question

I'm a first semester nursing student. I spent all day on Monday in the OR. I have to write a care plan and the case I chose was a resection of a cerebellar AV malformation. I watched the surgery but was told that the malformation was embolized in radiology before the surgery. Can anyone tell me exactly what was done and why it was done before the removal of the malformation? Also, if anyone knows a site that would tell me the steps of the resection I would be extremely grateful. Telling how the procedure was done is also required on my care plan. I watched but need some help with remembering the steps etc. Thanks in advance Jody

Answer 1

As you know a AVM is a mass of blood vessels in the brain that is for all practical effects a space occupying lesion. Embolization is a procedure in which an artificial clot is introduced into the feeder vessels of this mass. It is done under radiological imaging. A catheter is advanced into position right upstream from the vessel leading to the AVM a spherical bead that is larger than the lumen of the vessel is released - this. if all goes well, will block the blood flow to the malformation. When the surgery is done the AVM will be smaller and under much less pressure. That means their is less chance of inter operative rupture and a cleaner field to work in. It is a very effective procedure when it works. The down side is letting loose a solid sphere into the circulation of the brain to end up who knows where.

As for procedure see

http://jnnp.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/76/suppl_3/iii48