Symptoms of vascular malformations include:
- Pain in and around the malformation
- Skin changes in the form of red spots, a birthmark or a lump under the skin
- Swelling near the malformation or in an affected limb
- Internal bleeding at or near the site of the malformation
- Neurological symptoms, such as headaches, seizures, stroke or a buzzing/pulsing sound heard in the head
- Weakness or numbness in the arms, legs or other parts of the body
- Hydrocephalus or a buildup of fluid in the brain
- Difficulty with daily activities, such as walking or walking up stairs
- Loss of consciousness in larger or more severe malformations
How does Alate Health treat vascular malformations?
Dr. Andrew Doe of Alate Health treats vascular malformations with a minimally invasive procedure called embolization. This involves blocking the blood flow to the malformation to shrink it using tiny particles–delivered via catheter–and under the guidance of imaging. When the malformation shrinks due to lack of blood flow, symptoms are alleviated and bleeding risk is reduced.
