What Is Moyamoya Disease?
Moyamoya disease is a disorder caused by blocked arteries at the base of the brain.
The name "moyamoya" means "puff of smoke" in Japanese and describes the appearance of the tangle of tiny vessels that form to compensate for the blockage. As the normal blood vessels narrow and become blocked, a person may suffer a stroke - a life-threatening situation. No medication can stop or reverse the progression of moyamoya disease. Treatment focuses on reducing the risk of stroke and restoring blood flow to the brain.
Surgery is generally recommended for MOYAMOYA patients with recurrent or progressive TIAs or strokes. Several different surgeries are available, all with the goal of preventing further strokes by restoring (revascularizing) blood flow to the affected areas of the brain.
CEREBRAL BYPASS PROCEDURE:
This is a direct method of revascularization. It involves connecting a blood vessel from outside the brain to a vessel inside the brain to reroute blood flow around an artery that is narrowed, blocked, or damaged. Occasionally, if the superficial temporal artery is not available or not big enough to use in the bypass, then another artery must be utilized. This will be determined when your surgeon reviews the images of your arteries from your angiogram or CT angiogram.
If a patient is surgically treated prior to a disabling stroke, even if the condition is severe, the prognosis tends to be excellent. Even in patients without symptoms, surgical treatment has been reported to protect against stroke. However, if left untreated, the disease will invariably progress, producing clinical deterioration and potentially irreversible neurological deficits over time.
For patients who have long-term damage from strokes, treatment will also focus on physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy to help them regain function and cope with any remaining disability.