| abstract |
A patient in whom blood diversion due to cerebral venous steal is present, and abolishment of the cerebral venous steal is indicated, is treated by increasing the cerebral venous pressure in the patient. This increase in cerebral venous pressure restores the collapsed cerebral vasculature, thereby increasing cerebral blood flow. The increase in cerebral venous pressure may be achieved using an occluding catheter in the superior vena cava or the internal jugular veins, using external compression of the cervical veins, or any other suitable mechanism. The occlusion may be controlled precisely during treatment, possibly as a function of cerebral blood flow, and after treatment the patient may experience a persistent effect because the cerebral vasculature is no longer collapsed. |