Embolization is a non-surgical, minimally invasive procedure that can:
- Block the abnormal blood flow to an AVM
- Shrink tumors
- Prevent blood clots
- Stop an aneurysm
How Embolization Works
During embolization, a UPMC neurosurgeon:
- Threads a small catheter or tube through a blood vessel in the groin.
- Navigates the catheter to blood vessels in the brain.
- Guides small coils or detachable silicon balloons through the arteries to create an emboli or block blood flow to an area of the brain or body.