Neurovascular Program

The Neurovascular Program is a collaborative effort of specialists and Allied Health staff from multiple disciplines to combat stroke and neurovascular disease. Many patients are treated in a single day using minimally invasive endovascular approaches, thereby avoiding long hospital stays.

Expertise is maintained in the provision of open cerebrovascular neurosurgery to Albertans. In conjunction with our internationally recognized Calgary Stroke Program, the Neurovascular Program has become an important partner in stroke care and research.

Highlights

We have seen continued growth in the number of procedures, especially mechanical stroke thrombectomy, and now about 400 patients are treated annually via minimally invasive endovascular means such as aneurysm coiling, vascular malformation embolization, carotid stenting and endovascular stroke treatment.

An integrated relationship with the Alberta Radiosurgery Centre has allowed the non-invasive and safe treatment of patients with complex arteriovenous malformations. Over the years we have consolidated the outpatient experience and launched the Neurovascular Clinic in Calgary in conjunction with specialists from neurosurgery, neurology, radiology and nursing. This has allowed the rapid, same-day triage and evaluation of stroke patients to provide high-quality care and further opportunities for teaching and clinical studies.

Approximately 1,900 patients with neurovascular disease were seen in the past year in our specialized outpatient clinic for evaluation and follow-up.

Education

Our brain aneurysm patient support network, led by our nursing team, continues to enjoy widespread acceptance amongst patients, their families, and the community. Our growing reputation for clinical care, teaching, and research has enabled the competitive selection and recruitment of clinical fellows in endovascular training and open neurosurgical techniques.

Research

Academic initiatives have centered upon Dr. Alim Mitha’s biomedical engineering laboratory for developing new intravascular devices for brain aneurysm therapy. Technology from the laboratory is being spun out into a startup venture, Fluid Biotech, which aims to commercialize a new bio-absorbable stent for treating brain aneurysms.

We continue to participate with the Calgary Stroke Program in multiple clinical research projects that have led to numerous publications and grants.

Members

Dr. John Wong, Dr. Alim Mitha, Dr. Garnette Sutherland, Dr. William Morrish, Dr. Mayank Goyal, Dr. Muneer Eesa, Dr. Mohammed Almekhlafi

Nursing: Michelle Gillies, Leslie Zimmel

Fellows: Dr. Nima Kashani (Neuro-intervention), Dr. Mohammed Suheel (Vascular Neurosurgery)