History of Interventional Neuroradiology / Endovascular Neurosurgery
Interventional Neuroradiology, also called Endovascular Neurosurgery, is an advanced minimally invasive specialty used to treat complex brain and spine blood vessel conditions. Instead of opening the skull, the doctor reaches the affected vessel through a tiny catheter, usually inserted from the wrist or groin, and guides it using high-resolution angiography.
This field began with diagnostic angiography and early embolization techniques, but has now evolved with biplane DSA, 3D rotational angiography, microcatheters, detachable coils, stents, flow diverters, liquid embolic agents, and image-guided precision planning. 3D angiography helps doctors understand aneurysm shape and vessel anatomy more accurately before treatment.
Today, many brain aneurysms, AVMs, DAVFs, carotid-cavernous fistulas, stroke clots, and spinal vascular malformations can be treated from inside the blood vessel with less trauma, shorter recovery, and greater precision in selected patients.
Treatment includes:
Treatment may include aneurysm coiling, stent-assisted coiling, flow diversion, glue or liquid embolization, AVM/DAVF and embolization, mechanical thrombectomy for stroke, and angioplasty or stenting. Flow diversion uses a flexible mesh stent to redirect blood away from an aneurysm and help the vessel heal over time.
FAQs
No. It is usually done through a small catheter route without opening the skull.
Brain aneurysm, AVM, DAVF, CCF, stroke clot, and selected spine vascular problems.
In many selected cases, recovery may be faster than open surgery because the approach is less invasive.