Vascular Services

Ischemic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain is blocked by a blood clot. Without blood and the oxygen it carries, part of the brain starts to die. The clot may form in the blood vessel or travel from somewhere else in the blood system. Our specialists use minimally invasive means to remove these blood clots, thereby restoring blood flow as quickly as possible.  

Cerebral (brain) aneurysm is a weak or thin spot on a blood vessel in the brain that balloons out and fills with blood. The bulging aneurysm can put pressure on a nerve or surrounding brain tissue. In rare circumstances, the aneurysm can leak causing subarachnoid hemorrhage. Our experts are able to treat brain aneurysms using soft metal coils or other intrasaccular devices that seal up the aneurysm from within. Other treatment modalities such as flow diversion by the placement of a metal stent inside the parent blood vessel to direct flow away from the aneurysm are also offered. 

AVM results from abnormal, snarled tangles of blood vessels that cause multiple irregular connections between the arteries and veins. These malformations can occur in any part of the brain, spinal cord or on their surface. At times, they can occur in elsewhere in the body. AVF is a direct abnormal connection between an artery and a vein. AVM/AVF can rarely cause bleeding inside the brain. Our neuroendovascular surgery experts are able to treat these vascular malformations that cause bleeding or are at high risk of bleeding by injecting a glue-like substance in them to seal the abnormal connection.

Carotid/vertebral artery stenosis is a narrowing in the neck of an artery that supplies blood to the brain. Carotid artery dissection begins as a tear in one of the carotid arteries of the neck, which allows blood under arterial pressure to enter the wall of the artery and split its layers. At times, these may cause ischemic strokes by reducing blood flow to parts of the brain. In carefully selected patients, our specialists are able to insert a metal stent or use a balloon in these narrowings to restore blood flow to the brain.

Intracranial cerebral artery stenosis occurs when an artery inside the skull becomes narrowed by plaque or disease. At times, this blockage causes ischemic strokes. In very carefully selected patients, our specialists are able to treat these narrowings by inserting a tiny metal stent or using a balloon to open up the blockage to restore blood flow to the brain.

Epistaxis (nosebleeds) occur commonly. Neuroendovascular surgery can be used to treat severe nosebleeds which are difficult to locate or control utilizing traditional treatment. Our specialists are able to utilize microparticles, glue, gelfoam or coils to stop this bleeding, thus allowing the vessel to clot and heal. 

In selected patients with head and neck tumors, our specialists inject microparticles, glue, gelfoam or coils to block the blood supply to a tumor. This is usually done prior to surgical removal of the tumor in order to reduce blood loss during surgery, shorten operative time and improve the chances of complete tumor removal.

Cerebral venous sinuses are large veins in the covering of the brain that drain blood from the brain to the neck and down to the heart. Cerebral venous sinus stenosis is a narrowing in these venous sinuses that is frequently seen in patients with pseudotumor cerebri or idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). Untreated IIH can lead to vision loss. In carefully selected patients with IIH, our specialists are able to place a metal stent to treat venous sinus stenosis.