Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
 
JEFFERSON HOSPITAL FOR NEUROSCIENCE

Departments, Divisions, Centers and Programs

Division of Neurovascular Surgery and Endovascular Neurosurgery


Division Home 

Division Staff 

Brain Aneurysm & AVM Center

Aneurysm & AVM support group

Brain Attack Program

The Division of Neurovascular Surgery and Endovascular Neurosurgery, under the direction of Robert H. Rosenwasser, MD, FACS, FAHA, Professor and Chairman of Neurological Surgery, offers a comprehensive array of treatments for cerebrovascular disease. Some of these procedures are minimally invasive or non-invasive, which reduces risk for all patients and, in particular, provides options to those patients who cannot withstand the rigors of open surgery.

Some of the treatments available from Dr. Rosenwasser and his staff in the Division of Neurovascular Surgery and Endovascular Neurosurgery include:

  • Microsurgery– Reconstructive surgery on small aneurysms or for purposes of stroke prevention, performed under magnification using delicate instruments and precise techniques

  • Endovascular embolization techniques– For blocking the flow of blood to   aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations (AVMS)

  • Stereotactic radiosurgery – Application of radiation, via either Shaped Beam Surgery™ or the Linear Accelerator (LINAC)-based X-Knife, precisely targeted to an AVM, thereby sparing healthy brain tissue from exposure

  • Carotid endarterectomy– Surgical removal of plaque deposits from the inside of the carotid artery, which supplies the brain with blood and oxygen, thereby reducing the risk of stroke or TIA (transient ischemic attack, which consists of short- term interruptions of cerebral blood flow, causing temporary paralysis, numbness, speech difficulty or other neurological symptoms that start suddenly and usually stop within 24 hours).  Carotid endarterectomy requires the surgeon to cut an opening in the patient’s neck, which is re-closed following the procedure. 

  • Balloon angioplasty– A noninvasive procedure in which a balloon-tipped catheter is introduced into a diseased blood vessel. As the balloon is inflated, the vessel opens further allowing for improved flow of blood.

The Division of Cerebrovascular Surgery and Interventional Neuroradiology is also home to  Jefferson’s Brain Attack Program, which sponsored by the National Stroke Association to make potential patients aware that cerebral vascular malfunctions (i.e., blood clots within the brain) and strokes are preventable and treatable if attended to immediately.

Basic Research
In addition to clinical treatments, Jefferson’s Division of Neurovascular Surgery and Endovascular Neurosurgery engages in research to determine the mechanisms of stroke and to investigate possible therapies aimed at reducing stroke-associated injury.