Interventional neuroradiology

The Erasmus Hospital's INR Department is active across 3 pathologies or clinics:

• Malformation pathologies such as brain aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations and fistulas, etc.  
• Thromboembolic pathologies such as ischemic stroke (caused by a blood clot), chronic subdural hematoma, cervical or intracranial artery stenosis, etc. 
• Within the INR Neonatal and Paediatric Clinic that treats newborns showing a malformation pathology (see Focus), in cooperation with the HUDERF.  

There are several INR approaches and methods. The most frequent are: 

• Angiography that consists of introducing a catheter via the wrist artery or the femoral vein (endovascular route) into which a contrast agent is injected and a series of X-rays are then taken. The images thereby obtained make it possible to map the blood vessels and identify anomalies. 
• Embolisation, a procedure by which a small catheter is introduced  endovascularly or percutaneously. This makes it possible to gain access to the brain damage or spinal cord and to provide treatment without recourse to more major surgery. 
• Mechanical thrombectomy that consists of "unblocking" blood vessels by "suctioning out" the blood clot via a catheter. It is one of the treatments for an ischemic stroke.

The Erasmus Hospital is home to one of the few Interventional Neuroradiology Neonatal and Paediatric Clinics in the world. Vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation is the pathology most frequently treated. This is an abnormal communication between certain arteries and the vein of Galen. These malformations can cause serious cardiac problems   in utero or at birth and subsequently a risk of haemorrhages and brain developmental problems. If operated on in time, most babies can survive and develop normally.