Moyamoya disease is a progressive, occlusive disease affecting the cerebral vasculature and the arteries that feed it. Moyamoya is a Japanese term meaning “puff of smoke.” When you view the appearance of the disease on an angiogram the abnormal vascular collateral networks developing adjacent to the stenotic vessels.
This disease causes the carotid artery in the skull becomes blocked or narrowed. This will cause the blood flow to your brain to become greatly reduced. Tiny blood vessels then open up at the base of the brain and attempt to supply the brain with blood. This outcome is presented in the image above and you can clearly see how the term a “puff of smoke” was coined. The tiny clusters of blood vessels are unable to properly …show more content…
Surgeons bypass blocked arteries in an effort to restore blood flow. Physical and occupational therapy will assist in regaining physical functionality that has been lost as a result of suffering a stroke. Speech therapy may also be required. Cognitive therapy may also be a necessary factor to recovery. Diagnosis of moyamoya will often leave patients petrified of suffering future strokes and coping with the knowledge of an inevitable impending death due to hemorrhage. I suffered four ministrokes while at home. I was admitted to the hospital and after an extensive stay, I was informed by a neurologist that scans of my brain were indicative of moyamoya. I was transferred to Lloma Linda University Hospital in Loma Linda to be prepped for immediate surgery with a specialist. Surgery occurred at 12:02 p.m. two days after being admitted and assessed. I remember waking from surgery and realizing I could barely feel any sensation below my waist. I was informed that I suffered another ministroke in the operating room. This stroke left me with irreversible nerve damage (neuropathy) that started in my lower abdomen and traveled all the way to my feet. The devastation I felt overwhelmed my entire being and senses. I felt completely dulled; I was so detached that when the surgeon relayed that he had only relieved the swelling of fluid at the base of brain and I did not actually have Moyamoya
This disease causes the carotid artery in the skull becomes blocked or narrowed. This will cause the blood flow to your brain to become greatly reduced. Tiny blood vessels then open up at the base of the brain and attempt to supply the brain with blood. This outcome is presented in the image above and you can clearly see how the term a “puff of smoke” was coined. The tiny clusters of blood vessels are unable to properly …show more content…
Surgeons bypass blocked arteries in an effort to restore blood flow. Physical and occupational therapy will assist in regaining physical functionality that has been lost as a result of suffering a stroke. Speech therapy may also be required. Cognitive therapy may also be a necessary factor to recovery. Diagnosis of moyamoya will often leave patients petrified of suffering future strokes and coping with the knowledge of an inevitable impending death due to hemorrhage. I suffered four ministrokes while at home. I was admitted to the hospital and after an extensive stay, I was informed by a neurologist that scans of my brain were indicative of moyamoya. I was transferred to Lloma Linda University Hospital in Loma Linda to be prepped for immediate surgery with a specialist. Surgery occurred at 12:02 p.m. two days after being admitted and assessed. I remember waking from surgery and realizing I could barely feel any sensation below my waist. I was informed that I suffered another ministroke in the operating room. This stroke left me with irreversible nerve damage (neuropathy) that started in my lower abdomen and traveled all the way to my feet. The devastation I felt overwhelmed my entire being and senses. I felt completely dulled; I was so detached that when the surgeon relayed that he had only relieved the swelling of fluid at the base of brain and I did not actually have Moyamoya