What is EDAS?
Encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis (pronounced en-sef-uh-loh-dur-oh-ahr-teer-ee-oh-si-nan-jee-OH-sis), or EDAS, is a surgical procedure that can help restore blood flow to the brain. EDAS can be used to treat moyamoya disease, a rare disorder in which vessels carrying oxygen-rich blood to the brain narrow over time, potentially becoming blocked. Because blood can’t flow well through these vessels, the body compensates by creating a network of tiny, abnormal blood vessels at the base of the brain. However, the new blood vessels are fragile, leaving them susceptible to bulging or breaking open.
Moyamoya can have serious neurological consequences, such as strokes and “ministrokes” called transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). Patients may develop other symptoms as well, including headaches, seizures and involuntary movements.
The goal of the EDAS procedure is to improve blood flow to the brain by bypassing the blocked vessels, preventing strokes and related problems.
