Imaging studies in infants will also help determine if the patient has accompanying hydrocephalus. MR angiography can help to delineate the vascular supply. In patients being considered for surgery or for occlusive therapy, cranial angiography is required to define the extent of aneurysmal dilatation and details for arterial feeders. A ventriculoperitoneal shunt may be required in some infants. Vaso-occlusive therapy Selective catheterization and therapeutic embolization of feeding arteries in the vein of Galen malformation can be performed.
Lesion shows thin capillaries or veins connecting directly to the arteries.
Often patients need to be intubated. Seizures should be managed with antiepileptic medications. Usually, neonate patients are given phenobarbital and phenytoin. Please see the Complex Partial Seizure and Neonatal Seizure chapters. Head circumference measurements should be obtained regularly and carefully followed, in order to detect hydrocephalus.