Cerebrovascular Surgery

Overview

Specialty Expertise

Our care team is renowned for their empathy, experience and expertise with patient care. They participate in national and international clinical trials, publishing and presenting research, developing industry protocols and guiding legislative change to improve patient care. Our doctors serve actively on committees for national organizations such as the American Heart Association (AHA), the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), and the Society for Neurointerventional Surgery.

The Team Approach

We treat neurovascular disorders with a multidisciplinary approach to patient care that combines vascular neurosurgery, interventional neurology and interventional neuroradiology. Our world-class Emergency Medicine, Neurology, Neuroradiology and Neurosurgery departments support us in our work. We have close collaborations with Vascular Surgery and Vascular Medicine through the Massachusetts General Hospital Fireman Vascular Center, home to one of the only vascular centers in the country with specialists in every area of vascular disease.

What to Expect

What to Expect During Your Appointment

We look forward to welcoming you to the Massachusetts General Hospital Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery clinic. During your first appointment with us, you will meet with one of our doctors or nurse practitioners. We will discuss your problem, review any imaging and explore various treatment options for your unique neurovascular concern. This includes a discussion of risks and benefits of any surgical procedure as well as allowing time for you to ask any questions you may have.

If you are already a Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) patient your records will be readily available through our electronic record system. If you are a patient coming from outside the MGH or Mass General Brigham, please bring the following when you come to see our specialists:

• Outside records related to your condition
• Outside imaging (CT, MRI or angiograms) on disc to be uploaded and reviewed by our team

Your doctor can also fax your records to us at the fax number for your provider.

You will have ample opportunity to ask questions and we encourage you to consider what questions you would particularly like addressed. These may include:

• The cause of your condition
• The impact the condition might have on you
• The natural history of your condition
• The treatment options for the condition, including conservative management
• The danger of treatment
• The recovery from the procedures required
• Long term follow-up needs for your condition

Know Your Insurance Provider

Learn about your insurance coverage and limits, and bring your insurance cards and referrals to your visits. Depending on your treatment, you may need additional authorizations or referrals during the course of your care. Our financial counselors are available at 617-726-2192 to help answer any questions you have.

Conditions We Treat

The Cerebrovascular Surgery Program treats a wide range of conditions, including:

• Acute stroke
• Brain aneurysm
• Brain arteriovenous malformation
• Carotid cavernous fistula
• Cerebral vasospasm
• Dural arteriovenous fistula
• Epistaxis
• Vein of Galen malformations
• Venous sinus occlusive disease
• Carotid Angioplasty/Stenting
• Carotid Artery Closure/Stenting
• Tumor Embolization
• Various diagnostic procedures (including diagnostic angiograms, balloon test occlusions, WADA testing, etc.)

These conditions may be treated using both endovascular or open techniques by our highly skilled team.

If you require a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure you will need to be at MGH several hours before the procedure. All procedural admissions are initially admitted through:

The Center for Perioperative Care (CPC)
Wang Building, 3rd floor
55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114

If a procedure is required our team will provide you with detailed spoken and written information about the expectations. Minimally invasive procedures are painless, and usually diagnostic angiograms are accomplished with intravenous sedation alone. More complex surgery will require general anesthesia. Any open surgeries are accomplished with general anesthesia. You will have a chance to talk to our anesthesia team in person or on the phone before the day of your procedure.

Patient Guide

Patient Stories

Learn more about the care that patients received from the Cerebrovascular Program at Mass General.

Sharon's Story: A Family Faces Their High Risk of Aneurysm Together
Barbara's Story: A Stroke Patient's Family is Faced with Difficult Decisions at a Critical Time
Joan's Story: Blind Patient Thrives After a Ruptured Aneurysm
Lori's Story: Arteriovenous Malformation Triggers Near-Fatal Hemorrhage

Fellows

Justin Vranic, MD

Northwestern University

Omer Doron, MD, PhD

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem