Neurointerventional radiology

Neurointerventional surgery combines imaging technology and minimally invasive techniques to diagnose and/or treat complex brain and spine conditions, including aneurysm and stroke. It is also sometimes called endovascular surgery or neurointerventional radiology.

Minimally invasive techniques lower surgical risks, reduce recovery time and improve outcomes. They also reduce the amount of traditional open surgeries and offer opportunities for previously inoperable conditions.

Neurointerventional surgery can help with a wide range of brain and spine conditions, including:

• Acute stroke intervention
• Brain aneurysm and arteriovenous malformation (AVM) care
• Dural venous sinus stenting for idiopathic intracranial hypertension
• Intracranial and carotid stenosis
• Middle meningeal artery (MMA) embolization for chronic subdural hematoma
• Pulsatile tinnitus

Our team evaluates and operates on some of the most complex conditions in the brain and spine. Many of the surgeries that were once only available through an open, traditional technique that involved high risk of complication or were previously inoperable are now available through highly technical, but less invasive, pathways. Neurointerventional surgery reduces traditional surgery risks of bleeding and infection and shortens recovery time. Many patients can go home the same day or stay for an overnight observation. 

Advanced imaging equipment gives neurointerventional surgeons real-time, detailed roadmaps of your condition for precise, accurate surgery.

Patients may either come to our team through an emergency or, in some cases, for a proactive procedure after a consultation, which usually comes through a referral from a neurologist.

Neurointerventional surgery is performed by threading catheters (thin tubes) through arteries or veins and running them up to the area of concern. Neurointerventional surgeons use a variety of imaging technologies to see the precise area they are operating on. This approach eliminates the need for a traditional open surgery, which often requires opening or drilling into the skull, and reduces the risks that come with traditional surgery.

When deciding to have neurointerventional surgery, it is important you have full trust and confidence in the team performing it.

Allina Health offers one of the highest volume aneurysm programs in the United States and one of the most experienced practices in the world at Abbott Northwestern, Mercy, and United Hospitals. We’ve handled thousands of aneurysms since the 1990s, and our numbers continue to grow, with hundreds of aneurysm and stroke procedures each year.

Our team is part of our Allina Health Brain and Spine Institute, which carries highly regarded designations for the highest, most comprehensive stroke care possible: Two comprehensive stroke centers, a primary plus thrombectomy center, and Telestroke.

Across the Allina Health system, we care for approximately a third of the state of Minnesota’s total stroke cases each year through our hospitals and telehealth network. Since the inception of the program, we have treated more than 4,000 aneurysms across the Allina Health system.

We are highly educated and trained.

Our surgeons are fellowship trained, which means they have received specialty clinical education and fellowship training beyond their medical school education to become subspecialized in neurointerventional surgery. Many of our neurointerventional surgeons hold fellowships in multiple focus areas.

Our neurointerventional surgeons are also always looking to the future as our subspecialty grows and changes. We conduct research and clinical trials and connect with others in our field to push our specialty and our standard of care forward.

We hold prestigious memberships and certifications.

We are the only full neurointerventional surgery team in the state of Minnesota certified by the Society of Neurointerventional Surgery (SNIS), a highly prestigious group with only 1,500 subspecialist members worldwide. SNIS provides training, tools and research that help advance the treatment and positive outcomes, and it publishes the leading journal on neurointerventional surgery.

Each of our surgeons holds Recognition of Focused Practice in CNS Endovascular Surgery from the American Board of Neurological Surgery. This means we provide elevated, advanced patient care by taking an advanced written exam. We maintain the credential annually, which is overseen and approved by an advisory committee of endovascular subspecialists.

Our work and care receive awards.

We have won awards for our stroke care and research, and each of our providers has received Top Doctors awards from both Mpls.St.Paul Magazine and Minnesota Monthly, which means that other physicians trust us with their own care or with their patient referrals.

We contribute important knowledge to the field of neurointerventional surgery.

We’re not just providing care — we’re at the forefront of the research that helps drive the evolution of the field.

• Our team has done research on arteriovenous malformations, brain aneurysms, intracranial hemorrhage and more.
• The results of our collective research have been published in dozens of scholarly journals, including Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery, Neurointerventional Surgery and Vascular Medicine.
• We regularly present our findings and share our knowledge at national and international endovascular conferences to improve care worldwide.

We are part of a world-class neuroscience institute and team.

As part of the Allina Health Brain and Spine Institute, we have access to an unparalleled interdisciplinary team that includes a cerebrovascular clinic and highly trained neurosurgeons and stroke neurologists. Our neurointerventional surgery team also includes physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and administrative staff to deliver top care at every turn.