NeuroVascular Centers
NeuroVascular Centers
Of Southern California​


Minimally Invasive Endovascular Neurosurgery 


Cerebral Aneurysm

An aneurysm is a weak area in a blood vessel that usually enlarges. It’s often described as a “ballooning” of the blood vessel that can cause bleeding in the brain called subarachnoid hemorrhage. Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) refers to bleeding within the subarachnoid space, which is the area between the brain and the tissues that cover the brain. Vascular Neurologist and a Endovascular Neurosurgeon are doctors trained to determine if you are at risk for SAH. Endovascular repair is the least invasive way to treat and prevent future rupture. Our main focus is to evaluate and decide if treatment is necessary.   

Arteriovenous Malformation

Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is an abnormal connection between the arteries and veins that supply the brain. This tangle of blood vessels in the brain or on its surface can cause headaches, seizures, and brain hemorrhage. Vascular Neurologists and a Endovascular Neurosurgeons are specialist in evaluating your risk of bleeding and recommending possible treatment. Cather based treatments are used to identify potential bleeding points which can be safely embolized with embolic materials. Embolic materials work similar to how glue works by plugging and hardening the artery so it no longer is at risk for bleeding.

Dural Arteriovenous Fistula 

A dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) is an abnormal connection between an artery and a vein within the covering of the brain protective surface (dura mater) called a fistula. A DAVF can transfer high-pressure arterial blood into the dural venous sinuses that most commonly cause whooshing sound in the ear. If left untreated this high-pressure system can lead to a brain hemorrhage. The gold standard in the diagnosis of a DAVF is a Spinal Angiogram. Once diagnosed a DAVF is most often treated with endovascular embolization before they bleed. The fistula is shut down with a material such as glue and Onxy to correct the abnormal pattern of blood flow.

Spinal Dural Arteriovenous Fistula (SDAVF)

Similar to a arteriovenous fistula in the brain, spinal dural fistula are an abnormal connection between an artery and a vein located on the layer covering of the spinal cord. This layer that covers the spinal cord is called dura, hence the name spinal dural arteriovenous fistula. Abnormal blood flow from the artery into a vein causes dysfunction of the spinal cord circulation and eventually leads to spinal cord compression. Symptoms of a SDAVF is leg weakness and if not treated will lead to permanent leg paralysis. Treatment is similar to a brain fistula with the use of endovascular embolization techniques to avoiding complex open back surgery and infection.

Carotid Artery Atherosclerotic Disease

Like the arteries in the legs and heart, atherosclerosis is harding and narrowing of the blood vessels commonly can occur in the neck and brain vessels. Carotid artery disease, also called carotid artery stenosis, is the narrowing of the arteries in the neck that supply the brain. Over time plaque buildup can lead to narrowing or blockage in the carotid artery that can significantly increased risk for stroke by almost 26% over 5 year. If you previously had a stroke due to carotid artery disease you should be evaluated by a Vascular Neurologist. A Cerebral Angiogram is considered the gold standard for imaging the carotid arteries to determine you need treatment. Endovascular treatment using angioplasty (balloon) and a stent (a small mesh tube) is often needed to significantly reduce your risk of future strokes.

Intracranial Atherosclerosis Disease

Intracranial atherosclerosis is harding and narrowing of the blood vessels in the arteries that supply blood to the brain. Similar to carotid artery atherosclerotic disease, atherosclerosis or harding of the blood vessles can also affect the arteries that supply blood to the brain. Over time these blood vessels become severely narrowed or blocked. This cause the blood vessel in the brain to become sticky and a thrombotic stroke can occur.  The narrowing or blocked artery also can cause blood flow to the brain to be sluggish and an ischemic stroke can occur.  When medical therapy fails endovascular treatment using angioplasty (balloon) and a stent (a small mesh tube) is needed to significantly reduce your risk of future strokes.

Moya Moya Disease 

Moyamoya disease is a genetic disorder of the blood vessels in the brain that causes the arteries in the brain to become  narrow and eventually blocked. Often, tiny vessels called "moyamoya" vessels" form in the area of the narrowed or blocked vessels to compensate for the blockage. The most common symptoms of Moyamoya is a transient ischemic attack (TIA) and if not addressed at that time can lead to an ischemic stroke or hemorrhagic stroke. To understand moyamoya disease, we use Cerebral Angiography to helpful to understand the circulatory system of the brain to develop a focuses treatment plan on reducing your risk of stroke by restoring blood flow to the brain. We specialize in this disease and work closely with the best Vascular Neurosurgeons to determine the best treatment options for you.

Pseudotumor Cerebri
Also known as idiopathic intracranial hypertension, is a disorder caused by elevated pressure on the brain which results in severe headaches, blurry vision, papilledema, and permanent blindness if not treated properly. "Idiopathic" simply mean in the absence of a known brain pathology causing the elevated pressure on the brain. If medical therapy fails to control symptoms or if vision is lost occurs, a surgical options such as optic nerve sheath fenestrations and dural venous sinus stenting is pursued. In cases when the venous channels that carry blood away from the brain to the heart become narrowed, venous stenting can be done to prevent futer vision loss.  A Venography and Manometry is often needed to determine if dural sinus are narrow and endovascular treatment using angioplasty (balloon) and a stent (a small mesh tube) is needed to prevent further vision loss.

Using a state of the art Neuroangiography Biplane Suite, our doctors can treat complex brain and spine vessel disease using minimally invasive procedures that lead to faster and safer recovery.