Restoration of the vessels supplying the brain in the case of constrictions (stenoses)

The treatment options depend on the extent of the constriction, the clinical symptoms and any additional diseases present. For most cases, the treatment method is determined in a multidisciplinary meeting of specialists from neurosurgery, neurology and neuroradiology.

Our clinic specializes in the minimally invasive treatment of stenoses. This involves reconstructing the carotid and cerebral arteries via the carotid artery (endovascular) with the aim of improving blood flow to the brain and preventing strokes. Minimally invasive means that the blood vessel is not opened directly, but only a puncture of the leg artery in the groin or an artery in the upper arm or wrist is made. The diseased vessel is probed via this access using special catheters and materials. To widen the constriction, it is first dilated with a balloon catheter (angioplasty) and then supported with a mechanical scaffold made of a special metal alloy (stent).

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages

• No open surgical procedure necessary, eliminating the associated risks and complications
• Faster wound healing
• Shorter hospital stay
• A particular advantage is that this procedure can also be performed on patients who are not suitable for surgery (e.g. poor cardiac performance, high risk of anesthesia, after radiotherapy of the soft tissues of the neck, etc.).

Disadvantages

• In rare cases, dilatation and reconstruction is not sufficient for heavily calcified or severely tortuous vessels
• Blood-thinning drug therapy is required for a certain period of time

Procedure

The first step is to make a diagnosis, decide on minimally invasive treatment and discuss it with you during the consultation. This is followed by a prompt treatment appointment, taking into account the urgency of the treatment and your specific wishes.

The hospital stay for the treatment lasts three to four days. You will arrive the morning before the procedure and we will assess the current findings and make the final preparations. We will be happy to answer any final questions. On the day of the procedure, you will be taken from the ward to one of our two operating theaters, where the surgical team will welcome you and perform the procedure.

Aftercare

Immediately after the procedure, you will be examined to make sure that everything went well. You will then be transferred to a specialized monitoring ward where you will be cared for and monitored for a few hours. On the following day, a magnetic resonance examination is performed to assess the results of the operation and rule out complications. Normally you will then return to the normal ward and after a further one or two days you will be able to go home after a specialist consultation. At this last meeting, appointments for check-ups and consultations are also made.