Neurointervention

The majority of our treatments are minimally invasive and use the latest, most advanced technology. Our neurointervention specialists thread micro-catheters through blood vessels to locate blood clots and dissolve or remove them. This allows numerous vascular diseases of the head, neck, brain and spine to be successfully treated without conventional surgery. Before treatment, patients are advised of risks and benefits and guided through the process with care and compassion.

Catholic Health's neurointerventional treatments and procedures include:

• Arteriovenous malformation. (An abnormal connection between blood vessels. Most often they form in or around the brain and along the spinal cord.)
• Spinal arteriovenous malformation/fistula
• Arteriovenous fistula. (An abnormal connection between an artery and a vein.)
• Carotid endarterectomy. (Treats carotid artery disease.)
• Carotid stenosis. (A narrowing of the carotid arteries.)
• Carotid stenting
• Cavernous malformation. (An abnormally formed blood vessel.)
• Cerebral angiogram
• Endovascular coiling
• Endovascular embolization
• Endovascular thrombectomy for ischaemic stroke
• Intracranial aneurysms
• Moyamoya disesase. (A chronic and progressive condition of the arteries in the brain.)
• Stroke care
• Subarachnoid hemorrhage

• Carotid artery stenosis is narrowing of the vessel due to atherosclerotic plaque caused by fat, cholesterol and calcium. The carotid artery is located on each side of the neck and permeates the front part of your brain. 
• Carotid artery stenosis is usually diagnosed by ultrasound, CTA (computed tomography angiography), MRA (magnetic resonance angiogram) or cerebral angiogram. 
• Risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, cigarette smoking, sedentary lifestyle and obesity.
• When pieces of the plaque break off, clots are formed, which can block blood vessels in the brain. This results in a stroke or a transient ischemic attack.
• If the carotid artery stenosis becomes severe, patients are at higher risk of stroke or transient ischemic attack. Symptoms include trouble speaking, facial droop, weakness or numbness in extremities. 

• A cerebral aneurysm (brain aneurysm) is a weak spot of a blood vessel (artery) in the brain that bulges out. 
• Saccular aneurysm, also referred to as a “berry aneurysm,” is a round sac that comes off the artery.
• Fusiform aneurysm is an aneurysm that bulges on all sides of the artery.
• Brain aneurysms are frequently diagnosed incidentally during workup for other medical conditions. 
• Risk factors for developing a brain aneurysm include genetics such as connective tissue disorders that weaken the blood vessels or family history, polycystic kidney disease and cigarette smoking. 
• Risk factors related to aneurysm rupture include untreated high blood pressure, smoking, aneurysm size and family history. 
• Brain aneurysms can become symptomatic if they are large, compressing a nerve or prior to rupture. Symptoms include headaches, double vision, extremity weakness or sensory changes. 
• If a brain aneurysm ruptures, patients develop a special pattern of bleeding in the brain also known as subarachnoid hemorrhage. In that setting, patients can present with sudden “worst headache of life,” vision changes, sensitivity to light, nausea/vomiting, loss of consciousness or weakness in extremities. 

• Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is an abnormal tangle of blood vessels that has an irregular connection between the arteries and veins in the brain or spine. The arteries (high pressure system) are directly connected to the veins (low pressure system) without the middle connection—the capillary system—that normally decreases the pressure of the blood. 
• Over time the blood vessels within the AVM become weakened and cause rupture and bleeding in the brain. 
• If an AVM ruptures, symptoms include headache, seizures, weakness in extremities, vision changes, dizziness or speech difficulties. Symptoms are variable depending on the location of the AVM. 

• Moyamoya disease is a cerebrovascular disorder that affects the blood vessels in the brain and causes them to narrow or constrict, which limits the flow of oxygen and blood. Other blood vessels are formed to increase circulation to the affected area—these vessels are small and become easily occluded. 
• Moyamoya means “puff of smoke” in Japanese and describes the look of the blood vessels on angiographic imaging. 
• The cause of the disease is unknown but is more common in Japan, Korea and China. 
• Risk factors include familial history, Asian decent and female. 
• Moyamoya is diagnosed during workup for cause of a stroke or recurrent transient ischemic attacks. 
• Symptoms are those of a stroke including, but not limited to, trouble speaking, facial droop, weakness or numbness in extremities, dizziness or difficulty walking. ​