About this topic
Endovascular embolization can treat damaged blood vessels. This procedure fills in or closes the damaged blood vessel. This can help to prevent bleeding or the blood vessel breaking open. Embolization may be used for conditions like: ‚
- A weak blood vessel wall in your brain. This is a brain aneurysm.
- Tangled abnormal blood vessels. This is an arteriovenous malformation.
- A connection between two blood vessels that does not belong. This is an arteriovenous fistula.
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Take your drugs as directed by your doctor. Follow your doctors orders.
- Check your blood pressure and cholesterol level regularly. Follow your treatment plan to keep these in a healthy range.
- Talk to your doctor about how to care for your cut site. Ask your doctor about:
- When you should change your bandages.
- When you may take a bath or shower.
- If you need to be careful with lifting things over 10 pounds.
- When you may go back to your normal activities like work, driving, or sex.
- Always wash your hands before and after touching the wound or your dressing.
- Get lots of rest. Sleep when you are feeling tired. Avoid doing tiring activities.
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain
- Prevent infection
- Prevent blood clots
What problems could happen?
- Blood clots
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Dislodging of coils or stents
- Stroke
When do I need to call the doctor?
Activate the emergency medical system right away if you have signs of a heart attack or stroke. Call 911 in the United States or Canada. The sooner treatment begins, the better your chances for recovery. Call for emergency help right away if you have: ‚
- Signs of heart attack:
- Chest pain
- Trouble breathing
- Fast heartbeat
- Feeling dizzy
- Signs of stroke:
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause
- A seizure
Call your doctor if you have: ‚
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, wound that will not heal.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
- Changes in physical strength, behavior, mental status, or eyesight
- Trouble controlling body movement or walking
- Problem controlling your bladder
Where can I learn more?
American College of Radiology ‚
http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=dc-embol ‚
The Brain Aneurysm Foundation ‚
http://www.bafound.org/node/118 ‚
Last Reviewed Date
2015-05-28 ‚
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Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care provider 's advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2016 Wolters Kluwer Clinical Drug Information, Inc. and its affiliates and/or licensors. All rights reserved. ‚