Diagnosed with Arteriovenous malformation & a procedure with brain glue resulting in vomiting
Patient: My brother-in-law has been in a coma since March 20, 2012.  I'll give you the short list, diabetic, high blood, high cholesterol and overweight.  He suffered a stroke will in ICU.  He was later diagnosed with  Arteriovenous malformation - cerebral and had the procedure with the "brain glue". Currently he's in assisted living, with a trach, and feeding tubes.  Yesterday they informed us that he's been vomiting but there's no need for concern.  Should we be concerned?  The family knows someone that had a similar situation and was told he started vomiting and then a few days later, she lost him? Doctor: Vomiting can be a symptom of raised intracranial pressure, and so in someone who has had a stroke, we will worry about the possibility that this is a sign of increasing pressure in the brain.Often times we will order brain imaging just to make sure.However, if it is clearly related to another issue (feeding tube, slow stomach emptying, etc) then a scan may not be necessary.