Frequently Asked Questions

It is the minimally-invasive, image-guided treatment of blood-vessel conditions of the brain and spine. Procedures are performed through a small puncture (usually in the groin) using catheters, guided by X-ray imaging — without opening the skull or brain.

Yes. Most treatments are endovascular ("pin-hole") procedures done through a small puncture and guided to the target vessel with X-ray imaging — meaning no open surgery and, in many cases, a faster recovery.

DSA is a catheter-based X-ray examination in which contrast dye is injected to map blood vessels in fine detail. It is considered the gold-standard test for diagnosing and planning treatment of conditions such as aneurysms, AVMs, spinal vascular malformations and tumours.

It is the gold-standard treatment for acute ischemic stroke (within 24 hours). Through a small groin puncture, catheters are guided to the blocked brain vessel, and the clot is removed using aspiration or stent retrievers — without opening the skull or brain. Remember: time is brain.

Balance (sudden imbalance), Eyes (sudden loss/blurring of vision), Face (drooping/weakness), Arm (weakness in arm or leg), Speech (difficulty speaking), Time (time is brain). If you notice any of these, rush to the nearest stroke-ready hospital immediately.

If the patient arrives within 4.5 hours of onset, intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) may be given. If they are not eligible for IVT or are beyond that window, mechanical thrombectomy is a viable option up to 24 hours.

No — a brain aneurysm cannot be cured by medication. It requires intervention, either via the minimally-invasive endovascular route or an open surgical approach.

Options include simple coiling, balloon- or stent-assisted coiling (X- and Y-stenting), flow diverter placement, and endosaccular device placement. The choice depends on the aneurysm's morphology — its size, shape, aspect ratio, and whether it is ruptured or unruptured.

A sudden, severe headache (often described as the "worst headache of life"), nausea or vomiting, neck pain, and altered sensorium. Seek emergency care immediately if these occur.

In an arteriovenous malformation (AVM), arteries connect to veins through an abnormal tangle of vessels (a nidus). When an artery connects directly to a vein without that tangle, it is called an arteriovenous fistula (AVF).

Depending on the AVM, options include observation for small, low-risk lesions; microsurgical removal; endovascular embolization (using glue or coils); and stereotactic radiosurgery (Gamma Knife). The plan is individualised by a multidisciplinary team.

A thin catheter is inserted through a small groin puncture and guided to the narrowed neck artery under X-ray. A small mesh tube (stent) is placed to hold the artery open and restore blood flow. It is often done under local anaesthesia with light sedation, and most people go home within 1–2 days.

No. Not everyone with narrowing needs a stent — it depends on how severe the narrowing is and whether symptoms are present. All patients benefit from medical management such as blood-pressure and cholesterol control, diabetes management, antiplatelet medicines and lifestyle changes.

Common signs include progressive leg weakness or stiffness, numbness or tingling, difficulty walking or balance problems, back/neck pain, and bladder or bowel problems. Sudden, severe back pain with rapid weakness or paralysis (from bleeding) is an emergency.

Treatment depends on the type and location and may include endovascular embolization, microsurgical resection, and supportive/rehabilitation care (physiotherapy, bladder-bowel management, pain and spasticity control). Early assessment is important to prevent irreversible spinal-cord damage.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is increased pressure inside the skull with no clearly identified cause. The pressure relates to cerebrospinal fluid and can affect the optic nerves, so early diagnosis and treatment are important to protect vision.

It is hearing a sound — often described as a whooshing, pulsing or rushing noise — that beats in time with your heartbeat, and may be worse when lying down or at night. In IIH it can be an important clue, especially with headaches or visual symptoms.

It is considered in carefully selected patients with confirmed IIH or related venous-pressure symptoms, a documented narrowing of a venous sinus, a significant pressure difference across that narrowing, and persistent symptoms, threatened vision or an inadequate response to medicines.

It is a minimally-invasive procedure performed before selected brain or spinal tumour surgery to reduce the tumour's blood supply — so the surgeon encounters less bleeding and a clearer, safer operating field. It is an addition to surgery, not usually a replacement for removing the tumour.

Highly vascular tumours — such as selected meningiomas, hemangioblastomas, paragangliomas, and certain spinal tumours or metastases. The tumour type, location and blood supply determine whether embolisation is possible, and the decision is made jointly by the neurosurgical, oncology and neurointerventional teams.