Vasospasm

Show Navigation Breastfeeding Support Created with Sketch. Show Search Home Articles Our Picks Find IBCLC Membership Breastfeeding Support Created with Sketch. Evidence-based breastfeeding tips and resources Editor in Chief Philippa Pearson-Glaze • Home • Articles • Our Picks • Find IBCLC • Like us • Follow us • • • • • 323 Shares A vasospasm is a sudden narrowing (or constriction) of blood vessels. If the blood vessels in the nipple have a vasospasm this can cause nipple pain and sometimes deeper breast pain. A breastfeeding baby can trigger a nipple vasospasm if they are not attached (latched) to the breast comfortably ie with a big mouthful of breast tissue as well as the nipple. A nipple vasospasm can also be connected with Raynaud’s phenomenon (a condition affecting blood supply). This article looks at the symptoms, causes and possible treatments for easing nipple vasospasm. Search Articles Need to look something up? Nipple vasospasm and breastfeeding If a nipple is flattened or compressed because a baby is pinching the nipple during a breastfeed, this may trigger a nipple vasospasm. The nipple may look pointed or slanted like the top of a new lipstick straight after a feed and, since the blood vessels in the nipple are narrowed, less blood can flow and the nipple can temporarily turn white. When the blood flows back to the nipple after each breastfeed, mothers may feel a painful burning or throbbing sensation. What are the symptoms of nipple vasospasm? Symptoms of ni...

Raynaud syndrome is vasospasm of parts of the hand in response to cold or emotional stress, causing reversible discomfort and color changes (pallor, cyanosis, erythema, or a combination) in one or more digits. Occasionally, other acral parts (eg, nose, tongue) are affected. The disorder may be primary or secondary. Diagnosis is clinical; testing focuses on distinguishing primary from secondary disease. Treatment of uncomplicated cases includes avoidance of cold, biofeedback, smoking cessation, and, as needed, vasodilating calcium channel blockers (eg, nifedipine) or prazosin. Primary Raynaud syndrome is much more common (> 80% of cases) than secondary; it occurs without symptoms or signs of other disorders. In the remaining 20% of patients with Raynaud symptoms, a causative underlying disease (eg, systemic sclerosis) will be evident at initial presentation or diagnosed subsequently. Nicotine commonly contributes to secondary Raynaud syndrome but is often overlooked. Raynaud syndrome may accompany Migraine Migraine is an episodic primary headache disorder. Symptoms typically last 4 to 72 hours and may be severe. Pain is often unilateral, throbbing, worse with exertion, and accompanied by symptoms... read more , Variant Angina Variant angina is angina pectoris secondary to epicardial coronary artery spasm. Symptoms include angina at rest and rarely with exertion. Diagnosis is by electrocardiography (ECG) and provocative... read more , and Pulmonary Hypertension Pulmonary hyp...

Departments BMC physicians are leaders in their fields with the most advanced medical technology at their fingertips and working alongside a highly skilled nursing and professional staff. Conditions We Treat We offer diagnosis and treatment in over 70 specialties and subspecialties, as well as programs, services, and support to help you stay well throughout your lifetime. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • For Medical Professionals Whether you’re a current employee or looking to refer a patient, we have the tools and resources you need to help you care for patients effectively and efficiently. In addition, we are devoted to training future generations of health professionals in our wide range of residency and fellowship programs. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • When a blood vessel just outside the brain bursts, the space surrounding the brain (the subarachnoid space) fills with blood. This condition is called subarachnoid hemorrhage, and is usually due to an aneurysm. This bleeding may irritate nearby blood vessels that can become very narrow, a condition known as cerebral vasospasm. This vasospasm can starve the brain of oxygen, and therefore damage parts of the brain similar to a stroke. Cerebral vasospasm is a delayed event after an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, with a usual peak from days 7 to 9 after a bleed. It usually affects the large arteries near the ruptured aneurysm. CONSCIOUS 3 The main purpose of th...

introduction basics of Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome (RCVS) • RCVS typically presents with thunderclap headache due to diffuse cerebral vasospasm. RCVS is usually benign, but can cause severe sequelae (most notably, ischemic strokes). • Historically, RCVS has been known as numerous other entities, some of which are listed here: ( • Thunderclap headache with reversible vasospasm. • Benign angiopathy of the central nervous system. • Postpartum cerebral angiopathy. • Migrainous vasospasm, or migraine angiitis. • Drug-induced cerebral arteritis or angiopathy. • Call-Fleming syndrome. • It is only recently that these varied presentations have been unified under the rubric of RCVS. The ability to diagnose vasospasm noninvasively, by using either CT or MR angiography, has dramatically advanced the field. With a clearer concept of RCVS and improved diagnostic tools, it's likely that RCVS will be diagnosed more often in the future. pathophysiology • The primary problem seems to be diffuse, multifocal vasospasm of intracranial arteries. This may start with the smaller distal vessels and progress proximally to the larger arteries. • The cause isn't clear, but it may relate to autonomic hyperactivity and/or endothelial dysfunction. ( • The pathogenesis of the thunderclap headache is unclear. It's conceivable that this results from a positive feed-forward cycle involving increasing pain, increasing sympathetic tone, and increasing vasospasm due to innervation of arterie...

Cerebral vasospasm (VS) and delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) are important complications of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (ASAH). Imaging approaches to VS monitoring include noninvasive bedside assessment with transcranial Doppler ultrasonography, angiographic evaluation with digital subtraction angiography, and computed tomography (CT) angiography. DCI is a clinical diagnosis and is not fully explained by the presence of angiographic VS. CT perfusion has shown clinical utility and implications for future research in the evaluation of DCI in patients with ASAH. This review article discusses the common approaches to diagnosis and monitoring of VS and DCI, current treatment strategies, and future research directions. Key points • • Angiographic vasospasm (VS) can be monitored with transcranial Doppler ultrasonography; however, computed tomography angiography has a higher diagnostic accuracy when using digital subtraction angiography as the reference standard. • • Angiographic VS has limited prognostic value with regard to clinical outcomes in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, and delayed cerebral ischemia is not explained by VS alone. • • CT-Perfusion can serve as an adjunct modality in the evaluation of DCI given that angiographic VS does not fully explain the clinical syndrome of DCI. Introduction Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (ASAH) is a devastating condition with high morbidity and mortality, with a reported incidence ranging from 2.0 to 22.5 per...

Subarachnoid hemorrhage is sudden bleeding into the subarachnoid space. The most common cause of spontaneous bleeding is a ruptured aneurysm. Symptoms include sudden, severe headache, usually with loss or impairment of consciousness. Secondary vasospasm (causing focal brain ischemia), meningismus, and hydrocephalus (causing persistent headache and obtundation) are common. Diagnosis is by CT or MRI; if neuroimaging is normal, diagnosis is by cerebrospinal fluid analysis. Treatment is with supportive measures and neurosurgery or endovascular measures, preferably in a comprehensive stroke center. Etiology of SAH Subarachnoid hemorrhage is bleeding between the arachnoid and pia mater. In general, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is physical injury to brain tissue that temporarily or permanently impairs brain function. Diagnosis is suspected clinically and confirmed by imaging (primarily... read more is the most common cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage, but traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage is usually considered a separate disorder. Spontaneous (primary) subarachnoid hemorrhage usually results from ruptured Brain Aneurysms Brain aneurysms are focal dilations in the cerebral arteries. In the US, brain aneurysms occur in 3 to 5% of people. Brain aneurysms can occur at any age but are most common among people aged... read more . A congenital intracranial saccular or berry aneurysm is the cause in about 85% of patients. Bleeding may stop spontaneously. Aneur...

Vasospasm refers to the sudden contraction of the muscular walls of an artery. It causes the artery to narrow, reducing the amount of blood that can flow through it. The tissue receiving blood from the artery may develop ischemia (injury due to lack of oxygen). If it goes on long enough, necrosis (cell death) will occur. Persistent vasospasm is called Vasospasm can happen to an artery anywhere in your body. The most common areas where larger arteries are affected are: • the brain (cerebral artery vasospasm) • the heart ( The most common areas where small arteries and arterioles are affected are: • the nipple of a woman who’s breastfeeding • the hands and feet ( The symptoms of vasospasm depend on where in the body it occurs. Cerebral artery vasospasm Because this usually occurs after a bleed in the brain, the most common symptom is a worsening neurological condition Coronary artery vasospasm Lack of oxygen in the heart muscle causes chest pain called Angina due to vasospasm is different than angina from Vasospasm of the nipple This condition causes a burning or sharp pain and itching in the nipple of a person who’s breastfeeding. It can happen shortly after breastfeeding or in between feedings. The pain is due to blood returning to the nipple when the vasospasm stops. In someone with Raynaud’s phenomenon, it usually happens at the start of breastfeeding because the nipple has become cold. Raynaud’s phenomenon Raynaud’s phenomenon may affect about The way in which nipples v...

Cerebral vasospasm (VS) and delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) are important complications of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (ASAH). Imaging approaches to VS monitoring include noninvasive bedside assessment with transcranial Doppler ultrasonography, angiographic evaluation with digital subtraction angiography, and computed tomography (CT) angiography. DCI is a clinical diagnosis and is not fully explained by the presence of angiographic VS. CT perfusion has shown clinical utility and implications for future research in the evaluation of DCI in patients with ASAH. This review article discusses the common approaches to diagnosis and monitoring of VS and DCI, current treatment strategies, and future research directions. Key points • • Angiographic vasospasm (VS) can be monitored with transcranial Doppler ultrasonography; however, computed tomography angiography has a higher diagnostic accuracy when using digital subtraction angiography as the reference standard. • • Angiographic VS has limited prognostic value with regard to clinical outcomes in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, and delayed cerebral ischemia is not explained by VS alone. • • CT-Perfusion can serve as an adjunct modality in the evaluation of DCI given that angiographic VS does not fully explain the clinical syndrome of DCI. Introduction Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (ASAH) is a devastating condition with high morbidity and mortality, with a reported incidence ranging from 2.0 to 22.5 per...

Show Navigation Breastfeeding Support Created with Sketch. Show Search Home Articles Our Picks Find IBCLC Membership Breastfeeding Support Created with Sketch. Evidence-based breastfeeding tips and resources Editor in Chief Philippa Pearson-Glaze • Home • Articles • Our Picks • Find IBCLC • Like us • Follow us • • • • • 323 Shares A vasospasm is a sudden narrowing (or constriction) of blood vessels. If the blood vessels in the nipple have a vasospasm this can cause nipple pain and sometimes deeper breast pain. A breastfeeding baby can trigger a nipple vasospasm if they are not attached (latched) to the breast comfortably ie with a big mouthful of breast tissue as well as the nipple. A nipple vasospasm can also be connected with Raynaud’s phenomenon (a condition affecting blood supply). This article looks at the symptoms, causes and possible treatments for easing nipple vasospasm. Find an IBCLC Search for a breastfeeding expert near you Nipple vasospasm and breastfeeding If a nipple is flattened or compressed because a baby is pinching the nipple during a breastfeed, this may trigger a nipple vasospasm. The nipple may look pointed or slanted like the top of a new lipstick straight after a feed and, since the blood vessels in the nipple are narrowed, less blood can flow and the nipple can temporarily turn white. When the blood flows back to the nipple after each breastfeed, mothers may feel a painful burning or throbbing sensation. What are the symptoms of nipple vasospasm? ...

Vasospasm refers to the sudden contraction of the muscular walls of an artery. It causes the artery to narrow, reducing the amount of blood that can flow through it. The tissue receiving blood from the artery may develop ischemia (injury due to lack of oxygen). If it goes on long enough, necrosis (cell death) will occur. Persistent vasospasm is called Vasospasm can happen to an artery anywhere in your body. The most common areas where larger arteries are affected are: • the brain (cerebral artery vasospasm) • the heart ( The most common areas where small arteries and arterioles are affected are: • the nipple of a woman who’s breastfeeding • the hands and feet ( The symptoms of vasospasm depend on where in the body it occurs. Cerebral artery vasospasm Because this usually occurs after a bleed in the brain, the most common symptom is a worsening neurological condition Coronary artery vasospasm Lack of oxygen in the heart muscle causes chest pain called Angina due to vasospasm is different than angina from Vasospasm of the nipple This condition causes a burning or sharp pain and itching in the nipple of a person who’s breastfeeding. It can happen shortly after breastfeeding or in between feedings. The pain is due to blood returning to the nipple when the vasospasm stops. In someone with Raynaud’s phenomenon, it usually happens at the start of breastfeeding because the nipple has become cold. Raynaud’s phenomenon Raynaud’s phenomenon may affect about The way in which nipples v...