‘Brain glue’ provides new treatment for brain disorder

Though rare, an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) can cause serious neurological complications, including stroke. An AVM is a condition present at birth consisting of a tangled web of small arteries and veins in the brain.

Neurosurgeons at Rush are the first in Chicago and among the first in the nation to offer a minimally invasive procedure that delivers a liquid polymer to the AVM without surgery.

“The sealant can be of use for patients who are deemed too risky for surgery or as an additional treatment to radiosurgery and open surgery,” says Demetrius Lopes, MD, a neuroendovascular surgeon at Rush.

Recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration, this “brain glue” seals off the AVM so that it does not rupture or hemorrhage — a significant risk for patients with AVMs.

For more information about neurological services at Rush, visit the Neurological Care home page.