Neurointervention

Neurointerventional treatment, also called endovascular treatment, uses x-ray [fluoroscopic] help to treat vascular conditions of the brain and spine, usually using small tubes called catheters. [The conditions that can be treated this way can be arterial diseases, such as aneurysm or blockage as well as congenital malformations of the blood vessels, including arteriovenous malformations and venous malformations]. Interventional procedures usually start with angiography, in which a catheter is put into the femoral artery, at the crease of the hip, and then guided to the area of interest using real-time x-ray monitoring [fluoroscopy]. Angiography is done to clearly show what is wrong. This uses a contrast injection into an artery while a fast series of x-ray images is taken to clearly see the arteries and veins. Treatment or intervention is usually done through a microcatheter, or (tiny tube), which are placed through the angiographic catheter. Different specialized microcatheters can be placed within small arteries of the brain or spine and used to do procedures such as:

• Balloon angioplasty for vascular narrowing
• Stent placement
• Thrombectomy [blood clot removal] for stroke treatment
• Embolization [blockage] of abnormal blood vessels for treatment of tumors and arteriovenous malformations