Unlike an adult brain, a child’s brain is still growing and developing, so when a neurovascular disorder is present at birth or occurs later in childhood, young patients need specialized care from experts who treat children every day.
What are neurovascular disorders?
To function normally, our bodies rely on healthy blood flow to the brain and spinal cord. A neurovascular disorder is a condition — such as narrowing, hardening or malformation of the blood vessels — that disrupts this normal blood flow and oxygen circulation. This can lead to hemorrhaging (bleeding), clotting, stroke and other serious complications.
Our specialists at Texas Children’s Neurovascular Clinic see patients with a range of complex neurovascular disorders, including:
Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) — an abnormal tangle of blood vessels connecting arteries and veins, which can result in bleeding in the brain, seizures or stroke-like symptoms
Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) — an irregular connection between brain arteries and veins, which can cause bleeding or stroke-like symptoms
Cerebral aneurysm — a bulge or ballooning in a blood vessel in the brain
Genetic or congenital cerebrovascular syndromes (Sturge-Weber, HHT, CM-AVM Syndrome, etc.)
Moyamoya disease/syndrome — blocked arteries at the base of the brain, which can cause strokes
Vein of Galen malformation — a rare but serious blood vessel malformation occurring in neonates that can cause too much blood to rush to the heart
How we care for your child
Using a comprehensive family-centered approach, our specialists will evaluate your child, discuss treatment and management options, and arrange the care your child needs. We offer a complete range of treatment options for patients, including:
Our clinic is held on the third Monday of each month from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. During your child’s first visit, he or she may see all providers. Follow-up visits will be scheduled based on your child’s diagnosis.
