Cerebrovascular / Skull Base Surgery /
Academic Divisions
Overview
The Cerebrovascular / Skull Base Surgery / Endovascular Neurosurgery Division encompasses the Departments of Neurosurgery, Interventional Neuroradiology, Neurology, and Radiation Oncology, all of which work together with a focus on a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment and care of various neurovascular diseases (diseases affecting the blood vessels of the nervous system).
We treat conditions that affect blood vessels of the brain, neck, and spine including intracranial aneurysms, extra- and intra-cranial atherosclerostic disease, intracerebral hematoma, arteriovenous malformations (AVM), dural arterio-venous fistulae (dAVF), stroke, moyamoya disease, microvascular compression syndromes such as trigeminal neuralgia, and a host of less common conditions. Our team works to develop individualized treatment plans for each patient, as exemplified by weekly cerebrovascular conference, where patients are discussed and reviewed in detail by the multidisciplinary team. In addition, we have multidisciplinary cerebrovascular clinics every week where our team evaluates all patients in a comprehensive manner. Treatment options range from surgical interventions to more conservative treatment with minimally invasive endovascular procedures such as stenting, radiation therapy, and sometimes prescription medication.
When encountered with a neurovascular condition our team of experts meets and decides on the best treatment available. We have the most advanced imaging capabilities including MRI, non-invasive vascular evaluation with MRA and CTA, detailed evaluation of cerebral blood flow using MR perfusion, and conventional cerebral Angiography. If surgery is required our suites and operative rooms are equipped with advanced intraoperative equipment such as intraoperative CT scanners and surgical microscopes with non-invasive ICG monitoring.
Treatment may include neurointerventional surgery, which means treating the blood vessel disease from within the blood vessel itself, using a catheter and imaging technology to precisely target the condition. Many strokes are treated by removing the blood clot from within the blood vessel in this way. Our division’s clinical research is also deeply involved with outcomes and improving care of these patients, as well as those with complex aneurysms treated using flow diverting device, which is an advanced technique used to treat previously untreatable aneurysms.
Our Team
Division Director
Multidisciplinary Team
Neuro-Interventional Clinical Faculty
Neurocritical Care
Radiation Oncologist – Neurosurgical Oncology
Vascular Neurologists
Karen Furie, MD – Chair and Neurologist-in-Chief, RIH
Shawna Cutting, MD
Shadi Yaghi, MD
Ali Saad, MD
Tina Burton, MD
Brian Mac Grory, MD
Conditions We Treat
- Cerebral and Spinal Aneurysms
- Carotid Artery Stenosis
- Intracerebral and Spinal Hematomas
- Cerebral and Spinal Vascular Malformation
- Arteriovenous Malformations (AVM)
- Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas (dAVF)
- Cavernous Malformations
- Moyamoya disease
- Stroke
- Vascular Tumors of the Brain and Spine
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Hemifacial spasm
- Microvascular compression syndromes
Research
Focus on clinical outcomes and care delivery for patients with ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, including outcomes after carotid surgery.
Aneurysm treatment, and in patients treated with thrombectomy for large vessel occlusion.
Technology
Diagnostic – Radiology Department
MRI/MRA
MRI RAPID (technology that looks at blood perfusion to the brain)
CTA– (special CT scans that look at blood vessels.)
CT Perfusion
Cerebral angiography (Gold Standard test to look at blood vessels)
PET scanner
Therapeutic Technologies
Surgical microscopes with ICG monitoring
Intraoperative CT scanner ( used for complex blood vessel disease )
Endovascular aneurysm treatment
Flow Diverting Stents
LINAC (radiation therapy)
Gamma Knife
CyberKnife
LPG Neurosurgery
593 Eddy Street, APC6
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: (401) 793-9166
Fax: (401) 444-2788