Neuroradiological emergency interventions

Abstract

In the field of neuroradiology, improvements in imaging technology (diffusion-weighted MRI,DWI), 3D digital subtraction angiography (3D DSA) and endovascular devices (microcatheters, coils, stents) have opened the door to endovascular treatment even of life-threatening diseases in emergency situations. The advantage of endovascular therapy is that it is a minimally invasive approach that can be combined with diagnostic procedures. It is also fast and can be performed even in critically ill patients [34, 69, 71]. It does, however, require close cooperation between neurologists, neurosurgeons, craniofacial, head and neck surgeons, neuroanaesthesiologists and neuroradiologists. © 2007 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.