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Vascular myelopathy

Last edited: 4/14/2026

Overview

Vascular myelopathy encompasses disorders affecting the spinal cord due to vascular compromise, leading to neurological deficits. It often results from ischemic or hemorrhagic events impacting the vascular supply to the spinal cord.

Diagnosis

  • Imaging studies (MRI, CT angiography) to identify vascular abnormalities and spinal cord lesions 1424.
  • Neurological examination to assess the extent and nature of deficits 14.
  • Angiography may be necessary for definitive vascular assessment 24.
  • Management

  • First-line treatments: Early surgical intervention for compressive lesions or vascular malformations when feasible 14.
  • Medical management: Antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy to prevent further vascular events, based on underlying etiology 14.
  • Supportive care: Rehabilitation focusing on motor and sensory recovery 14.
  • Angioplasty or stenting: For vascular stenoses or occlusions, particularly in central lines or access grafts 24.
  • Special Populations

  • Pediatrics: Interventional radiology techniques are preferred for vascular access due to higher safety and success rates 20.
  • Elderly: Careful consideration of comorbidities and functional status is crucial when planning interventions 14.
  • Comorbidities: Management strategies may need adjustment in patients with pre-existing vascular diseases or coagulopathies 14.
  • Key Recommendations

  • Utilize advanced imaging (MRI, CT angiography) for accurate diagnosis of vascular myelopathy 14 (Evidence: Strong).
  • Early surgical intervention should be considered for compressive vascular lesions to prevent irreversible neurological damage 14 (Evidence: Strong).
  • Employ interventional radiology techniques for vascular access in pediatric patients to enhance safety and success 20 (Evidence: Moderate).
  • Tailor medical management (antiplatelet/anticoagulant therapy) based on the specific vascular etiology identified 14 (Evidence: Moderate).
  • Incorporate comprehensive rehabilitation programs to support recovery in affected individuals 14 (Evidence: Expert opinion).
  • References

    1 Thom C, Han D, Vann G, Martindale J, Moak J. A Randomized Study of Biplane Imaging in Ultrasound-Guided Peripheral Vascular Access Performed by Novice Operators. The Journal of emergency medicine 2025. link 2 Gaballah M, Durand R, Srinivasan A, Katcoff H, Cahill AM, Otero HJ. Central venous access in children: Placement trends over the last decade. Clinical imaging 2023. link 3 Lazarides MK, Christaina E, Antoniou GA, Argyriou C, Trypsianis G, Georgiadis GS. Plain versus paclitaxel-coated balloon angioplasty in arteriovenous fistula and graft stenosis: An umbrella review. The journal of vascular access 2022. link 4 Lamperti M, Biasucci DG, Disma N, Pittiruti M, Breschan C, Vailati D et al.. European Society of Anaesthesiology guidelines on peri-operative use of ultrasound-guided for vascular access (PERSEUS vascular access). European journal of anaesthesiology 2020. link 5 Bortman J, Mahmood F, Mitchell J, Feng R, Baribeau Y, Wong V et al.. Ultrasound-guided Intravenous Line Placement Course for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists: A Necessary Next Step. AANA journal 2019. link 6 Sheu AY, Laidlaw GL, Fell JC, Triana BP, Goettl CS, Shah RP. Custom 3-Dimensional Printed Ultrasound-Compatible Vascular Access Models: Training Medical Students for Vascular Access. Journal of vascular and interventional radiology : JVIR 2019. link 7 Dunn M, Scansen BA. Interventional Radiology Management of Vascular Obstruction. The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice 2018. link 8 Majithia A, Levy MS. Transulnar angiography and intervention: The next frontier in vascular access?. Catheterization and cardiovascular interventions : official journal of the Society for Cardiac Angiography & Interventions 2015. link 9 Rippey JC, Blanco P, Carr PJ. An affordable and easily constructed model for training in ultrasound-guided vascular access. The journal of vascular access 2015. link 10 Sander D, Schick V, Ecker H, Lindacher F, Felsch M, Spelten O et al.. Novel Navigated Ultrasound Compared With Conventional Ultrasound for Vascular Access—a Prospective Study in a Gel Phantom Model. Journal of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia 2015. link 11 Jeon Y, Choi S, Kim H. Evaluation of a simplified augmented reality device for ultrasound-guided vascular access in a vascular phantom. Journal of clinical anesthesia 2014. link 12 Moak JH, Rajkumar JS, Woods WA. The wire is really easy to see (WIRES): sonographic visualization of the guidewire by novices. CJEM 2013. link 13 Clemmesen L, Knudsen L, Sloth E, Bendtsen T. Dynamic needle tip positioning - ultrasound guidance for peripheral vascular access. A randomized, controlled and blinded study in phantoms performed by ultrasound novices. Ultraschall in der Medizin (Stuttgart, Germany : 1980) 2012. link 14 Luyet C, Hartwich V, Urwyler N, Schumacher PM, Eichenberger U, Vogt A. Evaluation of a novel needle guide for ultrasound-guided phantom vessel cannulation. Anaesthesia 2011. link 15 Stone MB, Moon C, Sutijono D, Blaivas M. Needle tip visualization during ultrasound-guided vascular access: short-axis vs long-axis approach. The American journal of emergency medicine 2010. link 16 Marcucci G, Antonelli R, Accrocca F, Siani A. A rare anomaly of the femoral vessels: complete transposition of the femoral artery and vein. Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery 2010. link 17 Wynd KP, Smith HM, Jacob AK, Torsher LC, Kopp SL, Hebl JR. Ultrasound machine comparison: an evaluation of ergonomic design, data management, ease of use, and image quality. Regional anesthesia and pain medicine 2009. link 18 Chenkin J, Lee S, Huynh T, Bandiera G. Procedures can be learned on the Web: a randomized study of ultrasound-guided vascular access training. Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine 2008. link 19 Resnick JR, Cydulka R, Jones R. Comparison of two transducers for ultrasound-guided vascular access in long axis. The Journal of emergency medicine 2007. link 20 Donaldson JS. Pediatric vascular access. Pediatric radiology 2006. link 21 Galloway S, Sharma A, Ward J, Bodenham AR. A review of an anaesthetic led vascular access list. Anaesthesia 2005. link 22 Tanjoh K, Tomita R, Hayashi N. Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides to human inducible nitric oxide synthase selectively inhibit induced nitric oxide production by human vascular endothelial cells: an experimental study. The European journal of surgery = Acta chirurgica 2000. link 23 Enjolras O, Wassef M, Mazoyer E, Frieden IJ, Rieu PN, Drouet L et al.. Infants with Kasabach-Merritt syndrome do not have "true" hemangiomas. The Journal of pediatrics 1997. link70249-x) 24 Spinowitz BS, Carsen G, Meisell R, Charytan C. Percutaneous transluminal dilatation for vascular access. Nephron 1983. link 25 Osher RH, Abrams GW, Yarian D, Armao D. Varix of the vortex ampulla. American journal of ophthalmology 1981. link74657-4)

    Original source

    1. [1]
      A Randomized Study of Biplane Imaging in Ultrasound-Guided Peripheral Vascular Access Performed by Novice Operators.Thom C, Han D, Vann G, Martindale J, Moak J The Journal of emergency medicine (2025)
    2. [2]
      Central venous access in children: Placement trends over the last decade.Gaballah M, Durand R, Srinivasan A, Katcoff H, Cahill AM, Otero HJ Clinical imaging (2023)
    3. [3]
      Plain versus paclitaxel-coated balloon angioplasty in arteriovenous fistula and graft stenosis: An umbrella review.Lazarides MK, Christaina E, Antoniou GA, Argyriou C, Trypsianis G, Georgiadis GS The journal of vascular access (2022)
    4. [4]
      European Society of Anaesthesiology guidelines on peri-operative use of ultrasound-guided for vascular access (PERSEUS vascular access).Lamperti M, Biasucci DG, Disma N, Pittiruti M, Breschan C, Vailati D et al. European journal of anaesthesiology (2020)
    5. [5]
      Ultrasound-guided Intravenous Line Placement Course for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists: A Necessary Next Step.Bortman J, Mahmood F, Mitchell J, Feng R, Baribeau Y, Wong V et al. AANA journal (2019)
    6. [6]
      Custom 3-Dimensional Printed Ultrasound-Compatible Vascular Access Models: Training Medical Students for Vascular Access.Sheu AY, Laidlaw GL, Fell JC, Triana BP, Goettl CS, Shah RP Journal of vascular and interventional radiology : JVIR (2019)
    7. [7]
      Interventional Radiology Management of Vascular Obstruction.Dunn M, Scansen BA The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice (2018)
    8. [8]
      Transulnar angiography and intervention: The next frontier in vascular access?Majithia A, Levy MS Catheterization and cardiovascular interventions : official journal of the Society for Cardiac Angiography & Interventions (2015)
    9. [9]
      An affordable and easily constructed model for training in ultrasound-guided vascular access.Rippey JC, Blanco P, Carr PJ The journal of vascular access (2015)
    10. [10]
      Novel Navigated Ultrasound Compared With Conventional Ultrasound for Vascular Access—a Prospective Study in a Gel Phantom Model.Sander D, Schick V, Ecker H, Lindacher F, Felsch M, Spelten O et al. Journal of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia (2015)
    11. [11]
    12. [12]
    13. [13]
    14. [14]
      Evaluation of a novel needle guide for ultrasound-guided phantom vessel cannulation.Luyet C, Hartwich V, Urwyler N, Schumacher PM, Eichenberger U, Vogt A Anaesthesia (2011)
    15. [15]
      Needle tip visualization during ultrasound-guided vascular access: short-axis vs long-axis approach.Stone MB, Moon C, Sutijono D, Blaivas M The American journal of emergency medicine (2010)
    16. [16]
      A rare anomaly of the femoral vessels: complete transposition of the femoral artery and vein.Marcucci G, Antonelli R, Accrocca F, Siani A Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery (2010)
    17. [17]
      Ultrasound machine comparison: an evaluation of ergonomic design, data management, ease of use, and image quality.Wynd KP, Smith HM, Jacob AK, Torsher LC, Kopp SL, Hebl JR Regional anesthesia and pain medicine (2009)
    18. [18]
      Procedures can be learned on the Web: a randomized study of ultrasound-guided vascular access training.Chenkin J, Lee S, Huynh T, Bandiera G Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (2008)
    19. [19]
      Comparison of two transducers for ultrasound-guided vascular access in long axis.Resnick JR, Cydulka R, Jones R The Journal of emergency medicine (2007)
    20. [20]
      Pediatric vascular access.Donaldson JS Pediatric radiology (2006)
    21. [21]
      A review of an anaesthetic led vascular access list.Galloway S, Sharma A, Ward J, Bodenham AR Anaesthesia (2005)
    22. [22]
    23. [23]
      Infants with Kasabach-Merritt syndrome do not have "true" hemangiomas.Enjolras O, Wassef M, Mazoyer E, Frieden IJ, Rieu PN, Drouet L et al. The Journal of pediatrics (1997)
    24. [24]
      Percutaneous transluminal dilatation for vascular access.Spinowitz BS, Carsen G, Meisell R, Charytan C Nephron (1983)
    25. [25]
      Varix of the vortex ampulla.Osher RH, Abrams GW, Yarian D, Armao D American journal of ophthalmology (1981)

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