Atherosclerosis is a disease affecting
arterial blood vessels. It is a chronic inflammatory
response in the walls of arteries, in large part due
to the deposition of lipoproteins (plasma proteins
that carry cholesterol and triglycerides). It is commonly
referred to as a "hardening" of the arteries. It is caused by the formation of
multiple plaques within the arteries. Intracranial
atherosclerotic disease refers to atherosclerosis
occurring in the brain.
Though any artery in the body can be involved,
usually only severe narrowing or obstruction of
some arteries, those that supply more critically-important
organs are recognized. Obstruction of arteries supplying
the brain can result in a stroke. These events are
life-changing, and often result in irreversible loss
of function because lost brain cells do not grow
back to any significant extent, typically less than
2%.
Physical treatments, helpful in the short term,
include minimally invasive angioplasty procedures
to physically expand narrowed arteries and major invasive
surgery, such as bypass surgery, to create additional
blood supply connections that go around the more severely
narrowed areas.
Neurological
Surgery, P.C. is one of the largest private
practices for neurological surgery in the
NY/NJ/CT Tri-State area, offering
patients the most advanced treatments of
brain and spine disorders, using minimally
invasive procedures like Gamma Knife, Cyber
Knife, Microdiscectomy, Kyphoplasty, X-Stop,
Carotid Stenting, Aneurysm Coiling and
Interventional Pain Management, rather
than major surgery whenever feasible.
