Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease
If you or a loved one is experiencing a stroke or other cerebrovascular disease, you need expert treatment fast. At Marcus Neuroscience Institute, our doctors have experience providing a range of treatments quickly and effectively, so patients can live longer, healthier lives.
Contact us with the number below.
561-955-4600Marcus Neuroscience Institute provides a full spectrum of surgical, medical and minimally invasive (endovascular) treatments for strokes and cerebrovascular diseases. Our complete care includes the most advanced diagnostic tools and access to the latest surgical technology.
As a comprehensive stroke center accredited by DNV Healthcare, we work closely with local emergency medical services to make sure stroke patients get rapid treatment. This includes medical treatments such as TNK (Tenecteplase), as well as endovascular and neurosurgery treatments.
Which stroke and cerebrovascular conditions are treated at Marcus Neuroscience Institute?
The team at Marcus Neuroscience Institute is highly skilled in treating both ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. We also treat other cerebrovascular conditions, including:
- Brain aneurysm (cerebral aneurysm)
- Dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF)
- Spinal arteriovenous fistula
- Brain arteriovenous malformation (brain AVM)
- Spinal arteriovenous malformation (spinal AVM)
- Carotid artery disease (stenosis, dissection and occlusion)
- Moyamoya disease
How do Marcus Neuroscience Institute experts diagnose strokes and cerebrovascular diseases?
When a patient comes to Marcus Neuroscience Institute with signs of a stroke, we use advanced imaging to diagnose the stroke as quickly as possible. These tests include special CT scans and MRIs called CT angiography (CTA), MR angiography (MRA) and CT profusion (CTP), which can examine the blood vessels in the brain and find a blockage or aneurysm.
We were the first hospital in Florida to use an artificial intelligence tool called VIZ.ai that can read a CTA and CTP result and diagnose a stroke in seconds. The software sends out encrypted alerts to everyone on the stroke team, notifying them that a patient needs rapid treatment.
Other cerebrovascular diseases, including aneurysms and carotid artery disease, are usually diagnosed with imaging tests such as MRIs, CT scans and cerebral angiograms. These conditions are often diagnosed during routine tests for other symptoms or health conditions, such as chronic headaches.
How are strokes treated at Marcus Neuroscience Institute?
Our stroke treatment starts with careful communication and collaboration with our local emergency medical services (EMS). When EMS responds to a stroke patient, they will contact our team before they arrive at the hospital. EMS staff will report the patient’s symptoms and evaluate the patient’s risk for severe complications.
Once the patient arrives at the hospital, our stroke team meets the patient at the door. We bypass the typical emergency room process and immediately start advanced imaging to diagnose the type of stroke.
If the patient is having an ischemic stroke, we may use medication called tPA, or tissue plasminogen activator. This medicine helps dissolve the blood clot and restore blood flow to the brain.
For some patients, we may use surgery to treat the stroke. If that’s the case, we can use a catheter-based treatment (endovascular treatment) to remove blood clots or plaque from inside arteries. We may also use aneurysm clipping or coiling to help prevent blood flow from getting to an aneurysm that has ruptured.
Marcus Neuroscience Institute recently added a new biplane angiography system to its set of advanced surgery tools. This system (the ARTIS icono) allows our interventional neuroradiologists to quickly and effectively remove stroke-causing blood clots. It features both 2D and 3D imaging and a special C-shaped arm that makes surgery flow smoothly. We also have access to the latest Corindus vascular robotic surgery system, which helps improve surgery precision and outcomes.
How are cerebrovascular diseases treated at Marcus Neuroscience Institute?
Our patients have access to a full range of treatments for cerebrovascular disease, including advanced neurosurgery and the latest minimally invasive procedures. The neurosurgeons on our team have experience with both open surgery and catheter-based treatments (endovascular surgery), which means we can provide the most effective solution for each patient.
The treatment we choose will depend on your diagnosis and condition. Some of the treatments we use include:
- Aneurysm clipping
- Aneurysm coiling or stenting
- AVM embolization and surgery
- Carotid enterectomy
- Carotid artery stenting
Our approach
When you come to Marcus Neuroscience Institute for stroke or cerebrovascular disease treatment, you can expect:
- Rapid diagnosis and treatment for strokes to avoid long-term side effects.
- Neurosurgeons who are experienced in all forms of surgery, including open procedures and minimally invasive treatments.
- The latest treatment technology and equipment, including robot-assisted tools.
- A compassionate team whose goal is to help you lead a healthy and full life.
Meet the team
Marcus Neuroscience Institute has experts who are specially trained in treating strokes and cerebrovascular disease, including:
- Neuro-interventionalists – A neuro-interventionalist uses minimally invasive techniques to diagnose and treat cerebrovascular diseases. These specialists use imaging to guide small catheters and surgical tools through arteries to treat conditions like strokes, aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs).
- Neurologists – A neurologist specializes in diagnosing and treating brain and nervous system conditions, but they do not perform surgery. If surgery is needed, our neurologists collaborate closely with neurosurgeons and neuro-interventionalists to find the best treatment option.
- Neurosurgeons – A neurosurgeon specializes in surgical treatments for central nervous system conditions. Neurosurgeons can treat problems related to the brain, spine and other nerves throughout the body.
Our team also includes specialized stroke nurses that provide quality care for patients throughout diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Not only are these clinicians registered nurses and advanced registered nurse practitioners, they also hold advanced certifications including Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse and Stroke Certified Registered Nurse.
What is the Brain Aneurysm Clinic?
Our Brain Aneurysm Clinic offers screenings for patients who may be at risk for a brain aneurysm. Risk factors can include having a family history of brain aneurysms, polycystic kidney disease or being a female with high blood pressure and/or alcohol or tobacco use.
If we believe you may be at risk for a brain aneurysm, we have a full spectrum of tools we can use to diagnose and treat the brain aneurysm and reduce the risk of a rupture.
What is a comprehensive stroke center?
Hospitals that earn the designation of a comprehensive stroke center provide a full spectrum of quality stroke care, including diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation. Comprehensive stroke centers are also able to treat any kind of stroke or stroke complication 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This means EMS teams will automatically bring stroke patients to these hospitals.
Boca Raton Regional Hospital has received comprehensive stroke center designation from DNV Healthcare, which includes guidelines from the American Stroke Association and Brain Attack Coalition.
Why is it important to have specialized stroke nurses on the Marcus Neuroscience Institute care team?
Specialized stroke nurses, or stroke clinicians, can provide more quality, comprehensive care for stroke patients. These clinicians undergo a thorough neuroscience orientation, stroke response evaluations, annual stroke education, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale certification, Basic Life Support licensing and Advanced Cardiac Life support licensing. Marcus Neuroscience Institute holds the highest number of advanced nursing certifications within Boca Raton Regional Hospital and the stroke clinicians have earned recognition by the American Heart Association and Palm Beach County.
Stroke and cerebrovascular disease clinical trials
We are actively participating in multi-center trials aimed at improving stroke treatment and outcomes. Marcus Neuroscience Institute is also one of the pioneers in studying trans-radial access or radial access for neurological treatments, which uses catheter-based treatments that start at veins in the wrist instead of the leg.
What is a stroke?
A stroke occurs when blood flow that carries oxygen rich blood and nutrients to a part of the brain suddenly decreases or stops due to a blockage. This blockage can either be from a blood clot or plaque (ischemic) or from a burst blood vessel in the brain (hemorrhagic). When oxygen-rich blood cannot reach your brain, tissue may become damaged, and within minutes, millions of brain cells die. Quick and safe treatment can prevent additional brain cells from being damaged and preserve brain function. In the case of severe stroke, timely treatment can mean the difference between life and death.
Prior to a major stroke, people sometimes experience a transient ischemic
attack (TIA) in which a clot obstructs an artery for a short time and
creates stroke-like symptoms. Since these “temporary” or “mini-strokes”
last only minutes or hours, people often ignore them. Do not dismiss such
an episode. Prompt medical treatment after a TIA can often prevent a fatal
or disabling stroke.
The Marcus Neuroscience Institute Comprehensive Stroke Center is a Florida
Accredited Comprehensive Stroke Center and a Joint Commission Thrombectomy
Capable Center, offering a continuum of care. An interdisciplinary team
of providers which consists of EMS, emergency physicians, neurologists,
neurosurgeons, interventional radiologists, registered nurses, stroke
clinicians, stroke coordinator, therapists, technicians and case managers
all work collaboratively to provide care individualized to each and every
stroke patient
At the Marcu Neuroscience Institute, all of our stroke patients are met
at the door by experienced, dedicated stroke clinicians, nurses and doctors
that guide the patient through the process, to assure rapid and full spectrum
care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year.
Marcus Stroke Network
What is the treatment for stroke?
Sometimes the clot is too big to be completely dissolved or the bleeding is too severe and may require another treatment, which is called neuro-interventional surgery. This surgery specializes in using a minimally invasive approach to treat stroke, hemorrhages, aneurysms and other vascular diseases of the brain, head, neck and spine.
Stroke Achievement Award
The Hospital earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing mortality and disability for stroke patients. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.
Comprehensive Stroke Center
Studies show that hospitals designated as Comprehensive Stroke Centers offer patients the best chance for survival and return to normal life. Mounting research shows that stroke victims receive better treatment and recover with fewer disabilities at such hospitals. For instance, comprehensive stroke center recommendations require round-the-clock neurosurgical staff and the latest technology to swiftly and accurately diagnose and treat acute stroke victims on an emergency basis.