About Neurointerventional Surgery
Neurointerventional Surgery is a subspecialty focused on the diagnosis and management of vascular diseases and conditions of the head, neck and spine.
This practice is also known as Interventional Neuroradiology or Neurovascular Surgery. All of our RIA Neurovascular Physicians are dual board certified (see Our Team for Physicians specific information) and have extensive training in the management of these elective and emergent conditions. The majority of our procedures are performed via an ultra-minimally invasive technique by inserting a small tubular shaped catheter into an artery (usually over the hip or wrist) or vein (usually in either side of the neck). Once the catheter is inserted into the artery or vein, the RIA Neurovascular Physician will direct the catheter to the location of interest to obtain additional information. These procedures require the administration of contrast (dye) while using an advanced X-ray guidance that allows our Physicians to subtract (remove) additional structures (such as bone, brain tissue, etc) from view so they can specifically study the vessels alone. The information obtained is either sent to your referring Physician or is utilized in the treatment of your condition at the same time.
Common reasons for a Neurointerventional Surgeon include:
- Diagnostic Cerebral and Spinal Angiogram
- Cerebral aneurysms
- Carotid artery stenosis or Dissection
- Vertebral artery stenosis or Dissection
- Preoperative Hypervascular Tumor Embolization Head/Neck
- Ischemic stroke treatment emergently
- Intracranial stenosis or dissection
- Arteriovenous malformation or dural arteriovenous fistula
- Dural sinus exploration (including IVUS measurements of the venous sinuses)
- Dural sinus stenting
- Diagnosis and management (if possible) of Pulsatile Tinnitus
- Epistaxis
- Balloon Test Occlusion studies
- WADA testing
In addition to the above procedures, our Physicians are also well trained in the following:
- CT Guided biopsy of the head, neck and spine
- Inferior petrosal sinus sampling
- Vertebroplasty and Cryoablation of Spine Tumors