During an embolization procedure, an artificial blockage is deliberately created within a blood vessel. There are many types of embolizations which treat a variety of neurological symptoms and conditions. Neurological embolizations include:
- aneurysm coil embolization - this procedure is used to treat brain aneurysms. An interventional neuroradiologist will block off the aneurysm by placing soft platinum coils through the catheter into the aneurysm.
- carotid fistula embolization - this embolization is used to treat carotid-cavernous fistuals by endovascular closure of the fistula.
- dural AV fistula embolization/brain AVM embolization - this procedure is used to treat rare congenital vascular conditions called AVMs or arteriovenous malformations.
- meningioma embolization - a process that prevents bleeding from a tumor prior to surgery.
- nose bleeding embolization - this embolization treats nose bleeds that are persistent enough to be categorized as life threatening.
- spinal embolization - this procedure is often performed to block blood flow to a spine tumor, arteriovenous malformation (AVM) or other abnormality of the spine after it has been identified by angiography.