Vascular Malformation Clinic

How Can We Help
How Can We Help?

Contact Us:713.441.5200

Outside Houston:877.790.3627

International:+1.713.441.2340

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World-Class Treatment for AVMs

 
The Vascular Malformation Clinic, part of Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center and led by Alan Lumsden, MD, highlights our expertise in diagnosis and treatment of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). 
 
AVM patients typically require a “medical home” for life because of the complexity of their conditions. We established our clinic, the only vascular malformation center in the region, because of this need. We uniquely combine the recognized talents of numerous specialists in the Texas Medical Center and at Houston Methodist Hospital, ranked the best hospital in Texas and one of the country’s best by U.S. News & World Report. Advanced imaging, robotic catheterization and a team approach to AVM treatment are hallmarks of Houston Methodist’s care.

Leading AVM Care

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In keeping with our commitment to leading medicine, the Vascular Malformation Clinic delivers long-term, multi-procedure, comprehensive therapy for treatment of AVMs.
 
Our highly skilled team of physicians, one of the most experienced in Texas, has a strong reputation for research and training in the diagnosis, management and treatment of this disease. AVM patients worldwide often seek treatment from Houston Methodist specialists because of their expertise in endovascular therapies and treating venous and arterial disease. 
 
AVM treatment and management routinely require a team of specialists, including diagnostic radiologists, wound experts, and vascular, orthopedic and plastic surgeons who offer patients lifetime care. And because AVMs can involve any structure in the body, our AVM specialists also work with orthopedists, gynecologists, urologists, pulmonologists, nephrologists and other skilled physicians.
 

Types of AVMs We Treat

Vascular malformations occur throughout the body and can show up at any age. We treat:
  • VMs of head and neck outside the brain 
  • VMs of upper extremity 
  • Truncal VMs involving the chest, abdomen and pelvis
  • VMs of the genitalia 
  • VMs of the lower limbs
Patients with AVMs in the brain (intracranial AVMs) should contact a neurological expert.
 

Our Services

  • Collaborative, team approach to the diagnosis and treatment of AVMs
  • Secondary consultation services with cardiology, pulmonology, orthopedics, nephrology, gynecology, urology and other departments
  • State-of-the-art dynamic magnetic resonance venography (MRV) and image fusion to develop a specific picture of the AVM, including its size and structure
  • CT scan (computerized tomography)
  • MRI

  • Embolization, during which a type of glue is inserted into the AVM to block blood flow into it (Houston Methodist specialists use Onyx®, a lava-like substance, and metal embolization coils to stop blood flow)
  • Surgical removal of AVMs
  • Sclerotherapy (when AVM is limited to the veins)
  • Absolute alcohol injections
  • Compression stockings (for AVMs of the limbs)

RELATED RESEARCH

Embolotherapy of Peripheral Arteriovenous Malformations. Zhou, Wei; Lin, Peter H.; Eraso, Andres; and Lumsden, AB, November 2005, Endovascular Today, pp. 85-91.
 
Vascular Malformation Clinic
 Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center
6550 Fannin St. 
Smith Tower, Suite 1401
Scheduling: 713.441.5200
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