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

Image: Angiogram Photo: Angiography Equipment

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)

At the University of Florida, a large volume of endovascular neurosurgical procedures are performed. Dr. Brian HohDr. Adam Polifka, Dr. Nohra Chalouhi, and Dr. Matthew Koch of the Department of Neurosurgery, are principals principal among team members. Pediatric patients are treated by Doctors Lance Governale and Jason Blatt.

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