Endovascular Neurosurgery

About Endovascular Neurosurgery

Endovasular Neurosurgery (Interventional Neuroradiology) is a subspecialty of radiology and neurousurgery in which minimally invasive procedures are performed using image guidance. Some of these procedures are done for purely diagnostic purposes such as cerebral angiograms, while others are done for treatment purposes, such as cerebral coilings or embolizations. Fluoroscopy (x-rays) is used to direct these procedures, which are performed using thin tubes called catheters. The catheters are introduced into the vascular system either through the groin, the arm, or sometimes the neck.

Cerebral angiogram

 

Basic endovascular procedures include:
Angiography
imaging the blood vessels to look for abnormalities
Balloon angioplasty
opening of narrow or blocked blood vessels using a balloon
Chemoembolization
delivering cancer treatment directly to a tumor through its blood supply
Drain insertions
placement of tubes into different parts of the body to drain fluids
Embolization
blocking abnormal blood vessels in arteriovenous malformations with glue or ONYX
GDC coiling
placing metal coils within a cerebral aneurysm
Thrombolysis
treatment aimed at dissolving blood clots causing stroke
Biopsy
taking of a tissue sample from the area of interest for pathological examination
Radiofrequency ablation (RF/RFA)
localized destruction of tissue by heat
Venous access
insertion and management of specialized kinds of intravenous devices (e.g. PICC lines, Hickman lines, dialysis lines, subcutaneous ports)

 

The University of Florida is one of the largest volume endovascular neurosurgery centers in the country. Doctors  Dr. Brian Hoh , Dr. Adam Polifka, Dr. Nohra Chalouhi, and Dr. Matthew Koch of the Department of Neurosurgery perform all types of endovascular neurosurgery procedures.

Related Links:
UF Neurovascular Program, Brochure for patients and families

View publications by Dr. Brian Hoh