Cerebrovascular Diseases
Advanced Expertise to Diagnose and Treat Cerebrovascular Diseases
Loyola Medicine provides comprehensive, multidisciplinary care for cerebrovascular diseases and disorders.
Cerebrovascular (neurovascular) disease refers to any disease of the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain, particularly the arteries.
For example, a stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain is blocked (called an ischemic stroke) or bursts (called a hemorrhagic stroke). A transient ischemic attack (TIA, or mini-stroke) happens when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked or reduced for a short time.
Cerebrovascular conditions treated at Loyola include:
- Arteriovenous dural fistula (AVDF)
- Arteriovenous malformation (AVM)
- Brain (cerebral) aneurysm
- Carotid artery disease (carotid stenosis)
- Cerebral or intracranial stenosis
- Fibromuscular dysplasia
- Ischemic stroke
- Moyamoya disease
- Stroke
- Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
- Tumors, including glomus tumors
Cerebrovascular diseases may be associated with different vascular risk factors, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or smoking. Rapid assessment is critical for the best possible recovery.
If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms that may be related to a cerebrovascular disease, you want an accurate diagnosis as soon as possible.
Loyola’s dedicated team of neurologists, neurosurgeons, cerebrovascular specialists and neurointerventionalists will determine what is causing your symptoms and deliver the highest quality of care — from diagnosis to treatment and beyond.
Why Choose Loyola for the Treatment of Cerebrovascular Conditions?
Loyola’s compassionate team understands that cerebrovascular diseases can be life-changing not only for the patient but also for family members. Loyola takes a multidisciplinary approach to patient care and provides support services for patients and families.
Loyola’s neuro intensive care unit is equipped with continuous EEG and video monitoring for adults and children and is staffed by certified technologists and trained neurology nurses, who have earned Magnet status.
How are Cerebrovascular Conditions Diagnosed?
Your cerebrovascular specialist will take a detailed personal and medical history and conduct a thorough physical checkup and neurological examination.
Tests that your Loyola doctor may order vary widely depending on your condition, and your evaluation may include:
- Angiography
- Blood tests
- CT scan (computed tomography)
- Cerebral angiography
- MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
What are the Treatment Options for Cerebrovascular Diseases and Disorders?
Diseases and disorders affecting the blood vessels of the brain, such as strokes, aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), are treated through a collaborative approach that includes neurologists, neurosurgeons, cranial base surgeons, neuroradiologists, neuro-anesthesiologists and others. Your Loyola doctor has the latest treatments and technology to improve your condition.
Your treatment will depend on the specifics of your case and may include surgical and non-surgical treatments, such as:
- Carotid angioplasty and stenting
- Carotid endarterectomy
- Endovascular coiling of a brain aneurysm
- Neurosurgical clipping of a brain aneurysm
- Treatment of arteriovenous malformation
- Cerebral bypass surgery
- Endovascular stroke therapy
Through the integrated teamwork of our neurosurgery, vascular and radiology specialists, cerebrovascular disorders can be treated surgically (from outside the blood vessel) or endovascularly (from within the blood vessel).
Our state-of-the-art cerebral blood flow laboratory also enhances the management of both interventional and open surgical cerebrovascular cases.
Research and Interventional Techniques to Improve Cerebrovascular Treatment
As an academic medical center, Loyola Medicine is dedicated to improving future treatments by conducting research on new medications and protocols.
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Our expert team provides comprehensive care for patients to determine neurological diseases, injuries and issues interfering with critical neurological functions. Schedule an appointment today.
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