The RUSH Approach to Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery

Cerebrovascular neurosurgery involves surgery to repair the blood vessels leading to and in your brain. Procedures that are performed through blood vessels using catheters are sometimes referred to as "neuroendovascular" or "neurointerventional" procedures.

This repair of blood vessels may happen in emergency situations — such as during a stroke or ruptured brain aneurysm — or as a planned procedure. However it happens, RUSH cerebrovascular neurosurgeons are at the ready. They can often perform surgeries in multiple ways — through a traditional, or "open," surgery or through the blood vessels in a minimally invasive way.

This expertise in performing surgeries in multiple ways allows them to individualize their approach to each patient's needs.

They also work closely with neurologists and other cerebrovascular specialists to ensure you're getting multiple perspectives on the most appropriate care.

RUSH Excellence in Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery

• Radial artery (wrist) access: RUSH cerebrovascular neurosurgeons in Chicago often use the radial artery in your wrist to gain access to blood vessels instead of an artery in your groin, which is the traditional approach. Using an artery in your wrist typically means a faster recovery.
• Multiple ways to perform procedures: Often, our cerebrovascular neurosurgeons can perform procedures in multiple ways: whether open or through the blood vessels, or while someone is awake or under general anesthesia. This ability allows them to tailor the way they perform the procedure to your specific situation — and for non-emergency procedures, to your preferences.
• Advanced technology during surgery: For complex cases, we use a hybrid operating room and angiography imaging suite at our Chicago location. For instance, during a brain aneurysm clipping procedure, we can take an image of your blood vessels (an angiogram). This helps us make sure the clip is secure and working properly for a smoother recovery.
• Team approach to treatment: Our cerebrovascular neurosurgeons in and around Chicago discuss multiple options as part of their team approach. For example, if you have intracranial atherosclerosis, the decision whether to continue medical therapies or have surgery can be tricky. The RUSH team helps you with that decision by coming to a shared opinion from experts in different fields.
• Continual improvement through research: Cerebrovascular neurosurgeons are continually investigating ways to improve cerebrovascular care through clinical trials and other research. From investigating new treatments for wide-neck aneurysms to exploring faster and more inclusive treatments for stroke, their focus is always on providing the safest, most effective treatment possible.
• More precise approach to diagnosis: RUSH University Medical Center is the first in Chicago to use a robotic system during diagnostic cerebral angiograms. This new system allows our neurosurgeons to better assess your brain’s anatomy during diagnostic procedures. And, if you need a stent (e.g., to open narrowed carotid arteries), this new system allows your neurosurgeon to position the stent with extreme precision. 
• Expertise in reducing your stroke risk: If you’ve been diagnosed with a cerebrovascular condition such as an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) or carotid artery disease, you may be at increased risk of having a stroke. The team at Rush’s comprehensive Stroke-Neurosurgery Clinic can create a personalized treatment plan designed to prevent future strokes. They’ll use their expertise in the full range of medications, surgery, minimally invasive procedures and risk reduction strategies to select the approach that works best for you.