Stroke & Aneurysm Care
Every second counts when it comes to treating strokes and aneurysms. That’s why our fellowship-trained, board-certified neuro specialists work fast to provide advanced treatments that aim to prevent death and disability.
Advanced Treatments from Neuro Experts
As the leading provider of stroke and aneurysm services in Georgia, our neuro team performs one of the highest numbers of thrombectomy and aneurysm treatments in the country. Across our network of Joint Commission Stroke certified hospitals, we offer advanced treatments including complex surgery, minimally-invasive neuroendovascular procedures, tenecteplase (TNK) therapy, artificial intelligence (AI) enabled brain imaging and telestroke services.
Advanced Treatments, Technology & Support
- Minimally-Invasive Treatment
- Biplane Imaging
- Artificial Intelligence
- Neurocritical Care
- Neurological Rehabilitation
- Augusta Cardio About Us
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- Augusta Cardio Treatments
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- Augusta Neuro About Us
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- Augusta Neuro Conditions We Treat
- Augusta Neuro Tests and Procedures
- Augusta Neuro Patient Resources
- Augusta Endovascular Neuro Our Approach
- Augusta Endovascular Neuro Why Choose Us
- Augusta Endovascular Neuro Conditions We Treat
- Augusta Endovascular Neuro Diagnostic Tests and Procedures
These minimally-invasive catheterized blood vessel procedures can treat complex conditions without open brain surgery. When performing a thrombectomy, a skilled neurointerventionalist or cerebrovascular neurosurgeon guides a tiny catheter through a blood vessel in the patient’s leg to the blood clot in the brain. The goal is to remove the clot and restore blood flow to the brain to help prevent disability.
Learn more about cerebrovascular and neurocritical care at Wellstar.
Wellstar’s rehabilitation facilities include two CARF-accredited inpatient rehabilitation programs. At select locations, Wellstar offers highly specialized neuro rehab services such as robotics, therapeutic gardens and music therapy. To care for our patients’ emotional well-being, we also offer stroke support groups and caregiver training programs at select locations.
Learn more about our neurological rehabilitation program.
About
If you suspect you are having a stroke, call 911 immediately.
More than half of all strokes are caused by blockages or narrowing of the carotid arteries, key blood vessels that lie on either side of the neck.
Blockage or narrowing of the carotid arteries may be due to drug or alcohol abuse, diabetes, a family history of stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, aging and smoking. But carotid artery disease often has no symptoms and many times is not diagnosed until a person actually experiences a mini-stroke.
Why Choose Us
Our stroke program has been recognized nationally by the University HealthSystem Consortium as the best in the United States for care of ischemic stroke.
A multidisciplinary team combining the expertise of our emergency department, neurologists, carotid artery disease specialists, vascular surgeons, radiologists, nurses, rehabilitation and more works together to treat patients with stroke and underlying carotid artery disease.
Treatments
- Surgery. Carotid endocardectomy removes built-up plaque inside the carotid artery. An incision is made on the side of the head with the blocked artery. The artery is opened, the plaque removed and the artery sutured back together, restoring normal blood flow to the brain.
- Minimally invasive procedures. Carotid Artery Angioplasty with Stenting (CAS) requires only a small incision in the groin. A special catheter with a tiny balloon on the tip is inserted into the carotid artery. Once the catheter is in place, the balloon is inflated to flatten the plaque and make a larger opening for improved blood flow. A stent or tiny expandable metal coil may be inserted to keep the artery from closing.
- Embolic prevention devices. Inserted during CAS, these tiny devices catch any clots or small debris that might break loose during angioplasty.
Diagnostic Tests and Procedures
Our program’s full range of diagnostic tests offer fast, non-invasive screenings to assess blood flow and pinpoint blockages, including:
- Doppler ultrasound and carotid artery duplex scans, which use sound waves to detect abnormal blood flow
- 64-slice CT scanner, advanced technology that can identify blockages within minutes
Other diagnostic tests include angiograms, in which a contrast dye is injected into a vein. Blockages appear during X-ray using a catheter threaded into the blood vessels.
About Us
A stoke can happen when blood flow is stopped to the brain, stroke falls into 3 main categories:
- Ischemic Stroke: A stroke caused by a blockage or narrowing of the artery supplying blood to your brain. A blood clot can either form in your brain (thrombotic) or it can break off and travel there from another part of your body (embolic).
- Hemorrhagic Stroke: A stroke that occurs when a blood vessel bursts.
- Mini-stroke: Also called a transient ischemic attack (TIA), is a warning that a major stroke could occur.
Why Choose Us
If you are having a stroke, you'll want to be seen at Augusta University Health’s Comprehensive Stroke Center as soon as possible. Our hospital is home to nationally recognized stroke experts who diagnose and treat the most complex and difficult stroke cases using:
- Multidisciplinary care: You will be taken care of by a team of board-certified stroke specialists who collaborate with nationally renowned neurosurgeons who are dual trained in both open and endovascular surgeries.
- Advanced technology: We have the area’s only Angiography Suite where we can identify and treat problems with blood vessels in the brain.
- Emergency Department (ED) access: Come to our ED if you think you are having a stroke, a skilled emergency team will respond quickly and efficiently to stabilize you and get you to our Stroke Center.
- REACH Call: Augusta University Medical Center neurologists have developed a nationally recognized telemedicine program that connects Augusta University Health specialists to participating rural hospitals 24/7.
- Neurocritical Intensive Care Unit: Providing patients access to 20 Neurocritical ICU beds, supervised by board-certified neurocritical care physicians.
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Interventional Stroke Care Program: We offer the area’s only program designed to prevent strokes before they happen. Interventional care depends on the type of stroke and the time patients arrive at our hospital and is done in the neuro-cath lab.
- Rehabilitation: Inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services by skilled physical, speech and occupational therapists
What is a Comprehensive Stroke Center
Augusta University Health offers tremendous advantages for the most severe stroke and cerebrovascular patients. We are one of the few select healthcare systems with an Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center designation by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health Care Organizations.
Accreditation
We have been recognized nationally with The Gold Seal of Approval® in health care attaining advanced certification by The Joint Commission and American Heart Association /American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA).
Conditions We Treat
Stroke is complex and can happen for many reasons. Our surgeons are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of:
- Aneurysms/ruptured aneurysms, when the wall of the artery becomes weak and could, or does, burst.
- Atherosclerosis, a buildup of plaque in the carotid artery that can block blood flow to the brain.
- Intracranial and cervical venous stenosis, are conditions in which there is a narrowing or blocking of blood flow through the veins.
- Moyamoya disease, a rare condition that causes blood vessels in the brain to narrow.
- Pulsatile tinnitus, a condition, where you can hear in your head, the rhythmic sound of blood pulsing.
- Sickle cell vasculopathy, a blockage in the arteries to the brain due to inflammation from Sickle Cell Disease
- Vascular malformations of the brain, such as arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), are abnormal clusters of veins and arteries that can tangle together and affect blood flow.
Tests and Procedures
As part of the Neuroscience Center of Excellence, our board-certified and fellowship trained neurosurgeons are dual trained in both open and endovascular surgical techniques.
Diagnostics
Diagnostics are an important part of stroke care. Surgeons use diagnostic angiography to evaluate a patient’s blood vessels for carotid stenosis, aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs).
Nonsurgical procedures
The Gamma Knife Center doesn’t actually use a “knife”, instead it uses stereotactic radiosurgery technology (radiation beams), a noninvasive procedure, to treat blood vessel abnormalities like arteriovenous malformations (AVMs).
Surgical procedures
Neurovascular and Endovascular surgery is performed inside the blood vessel using small incisions and a tiny catheter to remove clots, stop bleeding, or stabilize a vessel, these include:
- Embolization: A procedure to block off where bleeding is happening; used for ruptured aneurysms and vascular malformations of the brain.
- Revascularization procedure: To restore blood flow to the brain; used to treat moyamoya or sickle cell vasculopathy.
- Carotid artery stenting: This closed surgical procedure is typically done in interventional radiology or the neuro-cath lab, where a flexible metal tube is inserted to keep the carotid artery open.
Some surgical procedures require larger incisions in order to treat vascular problems:
- Surgical removal of plaque (endarterectomy): Performed in our OR to remove buildup in the carotid artery.
- Open vascular surgery: Neurosurgeons perform open surgery for more complex stroke cases, such as ruptured aneurysms and difficult brain vascular malformations.
Support services
Your stroke care doesn’t end after your surgery is over. We continue to provide additional support to help you get back to your life with:
- Medical social workers
- Case managers
- Stroke-trained registered nurses
- APPs (advanced practice providers)
- Licensed dietitians
- Neuropsychologists
- Physical therapists
- Occupational therapists
- Speech therapists
Patient Resources
Strokes are a leading cause of death and disability in people across the country. That’s why we strive to educate our community, patients and their families through preventive outreach programs about stroke.
{{a:279399}}Stroke Recovery
Learn how to help your loved one recover from a stroke. Get more information
Educational Posters
- BEFAST – Download the BEFAST poster to hang on the wall anywhere you think people need information on recognizing the signs of stroke.
- Mechanical Thrombectomy Procedure - Doctors may perform a mechanical thrombectomy procedure for larger clots that tPA does not fully dissolve.
Stroke Complication Rates
While rare, stroke complications can occur during your treatment and care.
Stroke Complication Rates in patients
Let's Talk about Stroke
We offer the following information from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for patients to download and educate themselves and others about stroke.
Our Approach
If you or a loved one needs neurovascular surgery, the Neuroscience Center of Excellence  has an experienced team that includes a nationally renowned neurosurgeon trained in both open vascular and endovascular techniques for treatment of stroke and other neurovascular diseases.
Why Choose Us
The Neurovascular and Endovascular Center Offers:
- A team of specialists who focus on stroke and aneurysm care and research.
- A Neurointensive Care Unit staffed by neurologists and neurosurgeons.
- Augusta University Gamma Knife Center for noninvasive radiosurgery for cerebral malformations and other conditions.
Conditions We Treat
Our professionals work together to determine the most effective treatment for each patient and deliver expert care for:
- cerebral aneurysms
- cerebral arteriovenous malformations
- carotid stenosis
- stroke
- cerebral vascular insufficiency
- other cerebrovascular conditions
Diagnostic Tests and Procedures
We use the latest diagnostic tests and technology, including a state-of-the-art bipanar angiography suite to identify and treat problems with blood vessels in the neck and brain .
Some of the procedures we perform include:
- Carotid artery stenting, to avoid more invasive endarterectomy, or surgical removal of plaque in the carotid artery, when possible
- Clipping of aneurysms, an open-skull procedure performed by a neurosurgeon who places a metal clip across the neck of the aneurysm.
- Endovascular coiling, a minimally invasive procedure that uses the body's arteries to deliver platinum coils which seal off blood flow into aneurysms.
- Endovascular glue embolization of arteriovenous malformations (a tangle of blood vessels in the brain)
Locations
- Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center and Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center are recognized as Certified Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Centers — the highest level of stroke certification available — by The Joint Commission.
- Wellstar Cobb Medical Center, Wellstar Spalding Medical Center and Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center are recognized as Primary Stroke Centers by The Joint Commission.
- Our neuro specialists offer aneurysm treatment at Wellstar Neurosurgery locations in Marietta and Roswell.
Currently showing 10 total listed locations