The exciting world of Interventional Neuroradiology

Im sure everyone has heard of aneurysms as well as blood vessel abnormalities in the brain, and that everyone is familiar with their treatment, which is the Neurosurgeon opening up the skull and treating the disease.

Im here to talk about another treatment option, which is interventional neuroradiology. It is a specialty open to radiologists, neurosurgeons and neurologists.

We treat patients by making a very small incision in the groin area, and from there we insert catheters and reach the blood vessels of the brain. Now if you’re thinking about risks, complications are rare, in fact for angiograms, you’re only looking at a 1% risk.

Let’s take for an example an aneurysm. With the catheter in place from the right groin area up to the blood vessels in the neck, we then insert a smaller catheter, called a microcatheter, and with it we enter the aneurysm. Once inside the aneurysm we place platinum coils until we completely fill the aneurysm. After which, we perform a final angiogram to confirm complete filling of the aneurysm.

Sounds easy right? But this approach to treatment entails mastery of the brain vascular anatomy, not just the normal anaromy but variants of normal as well, and not the mention learning the necessary skills to manipulate the catheters.

And you know the most amazing part? As long the procedure goes smoothly, the patient can technically be sent home the next day! So I hope this has shed light on of the most innovative and exciting fields of medicine.