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Neurointerventional surgery

The most comprehensive, minimally invasive surgery for head, neck, spine and brain.

Advanced Neurointerventional Surgeons in Green Bay

Using state-of-the-art imaging technologies and advanced minimally-invasive approaches to care, Prevea’s highly-trained neurointerventional surgeons are skilled in treating a wide variety of head, neck, spine and brain conditions in children and adults.

Stroke, brain aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and epistaxis (or nosebleeds) are the most common neurointerventional disorders treated by our team of specialists at Prevea Health and HSHS St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay – a distinguished, nationally certified Comprehensive Stroke Center and community leader recognized for its expertise and full range of stroke and recovery care.

Meet our physicians and providers

Victor Hugo Benali, MD

Vascular and Endovascular Neurosurgeon, Neuroscience Group

Ahmed Elakkad, MD

Neurointerventional Radiologist

Alison Meyer, MD

Neurointerventional Radiologist

Shea Sternhagen, APNP, NP-C, FNP-BC

Nurse Practitioner, Neuroscience

Expert Second Opinions for Aneurysm Treatment

Informed decisions about your health care, especially when it comes to complex conditions like brain aneurysm, are important to you - and they’re important to us. That's why we offer expert second opinions for individuals who have been diagnosed with a brain aneurysm. With thorough evaluation and the latest minimally invasive option we offer the most advanced approach to aneurysm treatment in the area. If you’re looking for treatment options, we’ll review your case and make sure you’re getting the best care possible.

To schedule a second opinion, call (920) 272-1610.

There are two main methods to treating aneurysms by preventing them from bursting and bleeding.

Open brain surgery, where a vascular neurosurgeon places a small clip near the weak spot of the artery to close it off from other arteries.
Endovascular embolization is a minimally invasive treatment performed by a neuroendovascular or neurointerventional surgeon who uses coils, stents or a new mesh-like tool called Woven EndoBridge or WEB to block the weak spot in the artery.

The major risk of an aneurysm is that bubble can rupture and cause bleeding inside the brain (otherwise known as subarachnoid hemorrhage or SAH). This can lead to disability or death. It is critical to seek medical care immediately to stabilize the bleeding in that weak spot, so it doesn’t burst or bleed again.

Aneurysm can be caused by a variety of risk factors including family history or genetics, smoking and high blood pressure. Most people don’t experience symptoms with an unruptured aneurysms. If caught before it bursts, it’s often due to having a brain MRI or CT scan for other medical reasons.

The most common symptom of an aneurysm is sudden onset of a very bad headache – or a “thunderclap” headache because it comes on fast and hard. Other signs include drowsiness or feeling sleepy, or difficulty moving parts of the body. If the aneurysm is large, the onset of these symptoms may come on gradually because the aneurysm is pushing on the nerves and parts of your brain that control movement. Sometimes, it can even cause a coma.

An aneurysm is a weak spot in an artery in the brain. When the artery wall isn’t strong enough, a little bubble or bulge forms.

Empowering Recovery with Comprehensive Stroke Care

What are the signs and symptoms of stroke?
Dedicated to helping patients recover from stroke, we offer a continuum of care from immediate emergency treatment all the way through rehab. With a wide range of options, we tailor treatment plans to each patient’s needs - ensuring optimal recovery. Our goal is to empower stroke survivors to regain independence and get back to their everyday life.

When a blood vessel in the brain is blocked by a blood clot, the brain tissue is then deprived of oxygen and damage can occur if the artery is not reopened again. Neurointerventional surgeons use a minimally invasive approach called thrombectomy to remove the blood clot with stents or catheters and restore blood flow.

If left untreated, brain tissue can become injured and lead to permanent damage.

Stroke risk factors such as age, genetics, gender and race cannot be controlled. However, there are several risk factors that you can control. If your health care provider has already identified that you have any of these risk factors, it is very important to create a plan to help reduce your risk of stroke.

Abnormal cholesterol
Alcohol consumption and illegal drug use
Atrial fibrillation
Carotid artery disease
Diabetes
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Inactivity
Obesity
Peripheral vascular disease
Smoking
Stress
Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
Unhealthy diet

BE-FAST acronym

Use the BE-FAST acronym to remember stroke warning signs. If you notice or experience one or more of these symptoms, call 911 immediately, don’t drive to the hospital. It’s important to get treatment as quickly as possible because seconds count when you or a loved one is experiencing a stroke.

B - BALANCE DIFFICULTY. Does the person have difficulty with their walking or balance?

E - EYE CHANGES. Ask the person if they have any sudden vision changes in one or both eyes.

F - FACE DROOPING. Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A - ARM WEAKNESS. Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S - SPEECH DIFFICULTY. Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or difficult to understand?

T - TERRIBLE HEADACHE. Does the person have sudden onset of a severe headache with no known cause?

Vascular Surgery to Prevent Stroke

If you are living with a vascular condition such as carotid artery disease (CAD) or peripheral artery disease (PAD), which can reduce or block blood flow in the arteries —there is an increased risk of the brain becoming deprived of oxygen during a stroke (aka ischemic stroke). To prevent this, our vascular surgeons offer several surgical treatment options. Learn about what’s available.

Advanced Solutions for Arteriovenous Malformation (AVMs)

With an expert team who specializes in advanced therapies tailored to each patient’s unique needs, you have access to comprehensive care to effectively manage AVMs and their complexities.

Treating AVMs is very complicated - depending on how they appear, where they are and how complex they are – and requires an experienced team of specialists, including surgeons and experts in neurological and critical care.

If an AVM causes bleeding, quick and aggressive treatment is needed to prevent more hemorrhaging.
Treatment might include surgery, radiation and/or a procedure called endovascular embolization. With endovascular embolization, a special material is injected into the abnormal tangle of blood vessels to block the irregular blood flow.

The cause of AVMs is not fully understood and many people with AVMs have no identifiable risk factors. It’s recommended to live a healthy, balanced lifestyle and watching for signs. If you notice something, talk to your doctor. They can refer to a neurosurgeon if necessary.

AVMs can cause different problems, depending how the blood vessels and brain tissue are being affected.

The fast blood flow can create aneurysms (bulges) in the vessels. These bulges can burst causing bleeding in the brain (intraparenchymal hemorrhage) or into the fluid around the brain (subarachnoid hemorrhage). This can cause severe headaches or neurological problems.

Sometimes, the damaged brain tissue around AVMs can trigger seizures.

AVM is an abnormal tangle of blood vessels (veins and arteries) form in the brain, resulting in irregular blood flow and pressure. Blood flows too quickly, damaging nearby brain tissue and dilating veins. This can lead to serious complications such as hemorrhage (bleeding) or stroke.

Neurointerventional surgery

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