The Cerebrovascular Center at Cleveland Clinic’s Neurological Institute integrates a multidisciplinary team of neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, neurointensivists and rehabilitation specialists who provide expert diagnosis and medical, endovascular and surgical management of all cerebrovascular conditions.
Appointments
To make an appointment with a specialist in the Cerebrovascular Center, please call 216.636.5860 or toll-free 866.588.2264. Patients are seen at our main campus in Cleveland, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Beachwood Family Health Center, Euclid Hospital, Fairview Hospital, Hillcrest Hospital, Lakewood Hospital, Marymount Hospital, and Medina Hospital.
Consultation Service
The Cerebrovascular Center Consultation Line is available to patients anywhere and does not require an in-person appointment for the initial consultation. To contact the Cerebrovascular Center Consultation Line, please call 216.445.1587 or toll-free 800.CCF.CARE, extension 51587.
News
- »Peter Rasmussen, MD named Secretary of the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery
Dr. Peter Rasmussen, a physician who specializes in neurointerventional medicine at the Cleveland Clinic was named Secretary of the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS) at the group’s Annual Meeting in August. Dr. Rasmussen was named to the position following an annual election, in which the society’s 600 members are invited to vote for leadership positions.
The SNIS is comprised of physicians across the United States with backgrounds in interventional neuroradiology, endovascular neurosurgery, and interventional neurology, who have special expertise in treating such conditions as stroke, aneurysms, carotid stenosis and spinal abnormalities through minimally invasive procedures. Having originated many of these procedures over the last 20 years, neurointerventional physicians are helping to transform the treatment landscape and improve outcomes for conditions that have the significant potential for loss of life or severely impaired quality of life.
Dr. Rasmussen is considered a key opinion leader in the area of aneurysms and arterio venous malformations. Regarding his/her new leadership role with SNIS, Dr. Rasmussen says, “I am honored to have this opportunity to serve my society and my fellow colleagues in this way. As the neurointerventional field’s leading resource for professional training, practice development and clinical standards, SNIS has been at the forefront in helping to advance our specialty and raise the bar on quality of care for patients everywhere.”
- »Pipeline® Embolization: An advanced procedure to stent large proximal carotid artery aneurysms
A device that received FDA premarket approval in April 2011, the Pipeline® Embolization Device allows for true reconstruction of large or giant wide-necked intracranial aneurysms (IAs). The Cleveland Clinic Neurological Institute's Cerebrovascular Center is one of just a few centers in the United States approved to utilize this device.
- »Telestroke Service
The Cerebrovascular Center now offers Telestroke services. The service provides 24x7 coverage by a specialty trained physician to assist medical centers in the assessment and treatment of their stroke patients. To facilitate an ongoing, real-time consultation, the Telestroke Network is enabled with a 2-way, portable videoconferencing system as well as a dedicated link between imaging systems. The physician assessment is also supported by Cleveland Clinic's Critical Care Transport services, should the patient need additional care.
- »Familial Aneurysm Clinic Opens
Cleveland Clinic Cerebrovascular Center is pleased to introduce the Familial Aneurysm Clinic. This Clinic is designed to offer screening for patients who are at higher risk of having an aneurysm because of family history of vulnerability to this condition.
Candidates at risk include those with a family history of diagnosed aneurysm in two or more blood relatives, especially if the following conditions are present:
- Hypertension
- Atherosclerosis
- Smoking
- Drug use (especially cocaine)
- Head injury (or history of)
At-risk candidates will receive a complete history & physical, neurological assessment and lifestyle risk assessment. Appropriate imaging and laboratory tests may be ordered, such as a CT or an MRI. In some cases, a referral is made to the Genetics Center.
Once examination and test results are complete, patients will work with their Familial Aneurysm Clinic medical team to determine the best surveillance and management options. It is recommended that patients with no symptoms or evidence of aneurysm follow up approximately every 3 years for continued monitoring.
Location
Cleveland Clinic
Cerebrovascular Center, S80
9500 Euclid Ave.
Cleveland, OH
Appointments
For an appointment with our Familial Aneurysm Clinic, call the Cerebrovascular Center Rapid Consult Line at 216.445.1587 or toll free at 800.CCF.CARE, ext. 51587.
- »The ABCs of Aphasia: Understanding aphasia is crucial to recovery—for patients and caregivers
Two years ago, after a major stroke to the left side of his brain, Bill Forester, then 51, underwent emergency surgery to insert five stents into one of his carotid arteries. His wife, Lori Forester, remembers the aftermath as though it were yesterday.
- »Cleveland Clinic Receives Primary Stroke Center Re-Certification
Cleveland Clinic’s main campus was recently recertified as a Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission and recognized as a leader in stroke care. In sharing observations from the review, the surveyor was impressed by the regionalization efforts Cleveland Clinic has made since the last visit in 2009, standardizing stroke care across the health system.
The advanced use of information technology to track and drive improvement in stroke care, as well as telemedicine services to support rapid stroke treatment, were also acknowledged by the surveyor as areas that made an impression.
“The Joint Commission recertifying Cleveland Clinic as a Primary Stroke Center validates our commitment and efforts to providing the highest-quality stroke care to our patients,” said Irene Katzan, MD, MS, Director, Primary Stroke Center.
“This recertification is due in large part to the team of experts providing stroke care across the Cleveland Clinic’s system,” said Peter Rasmussen, MD, Director, Cerebrovascular Center. “Everyone —from the neurologists, neurosurgeons and interventional neuroradiologists who specialize in stroke care to neuroradiology, rehabilitation, emergency medicine, nursing, Critical Care Transport and Laboratory Medicine — is dedicated to elevating the level of stroke care at Cleveland Clinic.”
Cleveland Clinic offers five Primary Stroke Centers throughout Northeast Ohio to provide consistent, high-quality stroke care and treatment. In addition to main campus, Euclid, Hillcrest, Lakewood and Marymount hospitals are Primary Stroke Centers.
This year, about 795,000 Americans will experience a new or recurrent stroke. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds and someone dies of a stroke every four minutes.
The Joint Commission's Primary Stroke Center certification program was developed in collaboration with the American Stroke Association. The program is based on the Brain Attack Coalition's "Recommendations for the Establishment of Primary Stroke Centers."
- »Cleveland Clinic Receives American Stroke Association Award
Cleveland Clinic Receives 2011 American Stroke Association’s Get With the Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Plus Performance Achievement Award
Cleveland Clinic has received the 2011 American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus Performance Achievement Award. The award recognizes Cleveland Clinic’s commitment and success in implementing excellent care for stroke patients, according to evidence-based guidelines.
To receive the award, Cleveland Clinic achieved 85 percent or higher adherence to all Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Performance Achievement indicators for two or more consecutive 12-month intervals and achieved 75 percent or higher compliance with six of 10 Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality Measures, which are reporting initiatives to measure quality of care.
These measures include aggressive use of medications, such as tPA, antithrombotics, anticoagulation therapy, DVT prophylaxis, cholesterol reducing drugs and smoking cessation, all aimed at reducing death and disability and improving the lives of stroke patients.
“With a stroke, time lost is brain lost, and the Get With The Guidelines–Stroke Gold Plus Performance Achievement Award demonstrates Cleveland Clinic’s commitment to being one of the top hospitals in the country for providing aggressive, proven stroke care,” said Irene Katzan, MD, MS, Director, Primary Stroke Center, Cleveland Clinic. “We will continue to provide care that has been shown in the scientific literature to quickly and efficiently treat stroke patients with evidence-based protocols.”
“Cleveland Clinic is to be commended for its commitment to implementing standards of care and protocols for treating stroke patients,” said Lee H. Schwamm, MD, chair of the Get With The Guidelines National Steering Committee and director of the TeleStroke and Acute Stroke Services at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. “The full implementation of acute care and secondary prevention recommendations and guidelines is a critical step in saving the lives and improving outcomes of stroke patients.”
Get With The Guidelines–Stroke uses the “teachable moment,” the time soon after a patient has had a stroke, when they are most likely to listen to and follow their healthcare professional’s guidance. Studies demonstrate that patients who are taught how to manage their risk factors while still in the hospital reduce their risk of a second heart attack or stroke.
Through Get With The Guidelines–Stroke, customized patient education materials are made available at the point of discharge, based on patients’ individual risk profiles. The take-away materials are written in an easy-to-understand format and are available in English and Spanish. In addition, the Get With The Guidelines Patient Management Tool gives healthcare providers access to up-to-date cardiovascular and stroke science at the point of care.
“Cleveland Clinic is focused on improving the quality of stroke care in several ways including implementing Get With The Guidelines–Stroke. The number of acute ischemic stroke patients eligible for treatment is expected to grow over the next decade due to increasing stroke incidence and a large aging population,” said Dr. Katzan.
According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of serious, long-term disability. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 45 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every three minutes; and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.
For more information on Get With The Guidelines, visit www.americanheart.org/getwiththeguidelines.
- »Is Beau Biden Too Young to Have a Stroke? Sadly, No
Vascular Neurologist, Irene Katzan, MD, discusses how younger patients are affected and recover after having a stroke.
- »Stroke Awareness: Knowing risk factors and how to prevent them
Vascular Neurologist, Irene Katzan, MD, is featured on Good Company, speaking about stroke awareness, risk factors and prevention.
- »Blowing your nose or drinking coffee could trigger aneurysms
- »Nearly 800,000 strokes will take place in the U.S. this year
Do you know the risk factors?
- May is National Stroke Awareness Month. For tips on preventing stroke from Dr. Irene Katzan, read more at WTAM.com
- »Know your stroke risk factors
- Watch Dr. Shazam Hussain discuss stroke risk factors on WOIO-TV 19
