Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery

Surgical and endovascular care for stroke prevention

At UCSF Health, we offer the latest procedures to treat cerebrovascular conditions and prevent strokes. Whenever possible, we use minimally invasive and endovascular techniques for shorter procedures, less pain and faster recovery.

We are a certified comprehensive stroke center, the highest certification given by the Joint Commission, American Heart Association and American Stroke Association.

Advanced treatments

We use advanced techniques, including robot-assisted surgery, to perform lifesaving procedures for cerebrovascular conditions.

Our hybrid operating room includes real-time angiography imaging, enabling surgeons to check results during surgery and perform combined open and endovascular procedures. This approach provides unsurpassed precision to treat complex conditions using minimally invasive techniques. It often eliminates the need for a postoperative angiogram.

Procedures we perform for aneurysms and other cerebrovascular conditions include:

• 3D computer modeling. We use advanced 3D imaging to model the aneurysm and simulate treatment before surgery. UCSF Health pioneered this technique to improve safety and outcomes for rare or hard-to-reach aneurysms.

• Endovascular embolization of aneurysms, AVMs and fistulas. We guide a catheter through your arteries to place soft coils or other substances in the aneurysm, stopping its blood supply to block diseased vessels. This minimally invasive approach often means faster recovery. Our team performs a high volume of these procedures each year.

• Microsurgical clipping. We carefully place a tiny clip to block blood flow to the aneurysm and prevent rupture. Our surgeons are highly experienced in this delicate procedure, which can offer excellent, long-term results for many people.

• Resection of deep-seated lesions, such as AVMs and cavernomas. We access deep and complex lesions using advanced 3D maps and neuro-navigation. Our team has deep expertise with these delicate procedures, reducing risks and protecting brain function.

• Bypass surgery for moyamoya disease. We have pioneered minimally invasive procedures to create a new blood flow route to the brain to prevent strokes in patients with moyamoya disease.

Expertise in stroke-related conditions

We treat conditions that increase stroke risk, such as bleeding in the brain (hemorrhage), aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), moyamoya disease, cavernous malformations and dural arteriovenous fistulas.

The number of aneurysm, AVM and bypass surgeries our team performs each year is among the highest in the nation. Our deep experience means safer surgeries and better outcomes for our patients.

Commitment to research

Our Center for Cerebrovascular Research is a hub for scientific discovery and research on improving cerebrovascular care, and we are at the forefront of innovations in this field. We aim to find new ways to prevent strokes and improve treatment outcomes.