Interventional neurology is a medical subspecialty that entails using medical imaging equipment to visualize the head, neck, and spine for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Practitioners in this field have completed residency programs in neurology or radiology before pursuing a fellowship in interventional neurology. They can work for hospitals or neurology centers, providing patients with a wide range of procedures. People are usually referred to this type of medical specialist another doctor.
The doctor in interventional neurology uses medical imaging equipment to clearly visualize the area of interest so that a procedure can be performed. With the help of angiography, the doctor could monitor the placement of instruments and the progress of the embolization during an embolization procedure, for example. The procedures are designed to be as minimally invasive as possible, lowering the patient’s risk of complications and shortening the time it takes to heal and recover. Stroke, vascular malformations, arteriovenous malformations, vasospasms, some types of tumors, and aneurysm are all conditions that can be treated an interventional neurologist.
Interventional neurology offers a variety of treatment options, including less invasive alternatives to more invasive procedures and treatment approaches for patients who would otherwise be without options if they didn’t have access to this type of medical specialist’s expertise. For example, if a patient has an ischemic stroke and arrives at the hospital after the time window for traditional treatment has passed, an interventional neurologist may be able to help.
Medical imaging equipment is available to specialists in this field, and they can use it in the course of their work. Depending on their needs and the patient’s situation, they can take both still images and video. Interventional neurologists can use medical imaging for diagnostic purposes as well as to guide procedures, checking the head, neck, and spine for signs of abnormalities that could explain why a patient is experiencing neurological symptoms.
This medical specialty is also known as interventional neuroradiology or neurointerventional surgery. Because there are a limited number of qualified specialists in the field, patients who require the services of an interventional neurologist may be required to travel to a major city for medical treatment, as larger cities tend to provide more options, such as treatment at university-affiliated hospitals, which may provide access to some of the most cutting-edge medical techniques, such as interventional neurology.