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Endovascular Surgical Neuroradiology

The endovascular surgical neuroradiology (ESN) or interventional neuroradiology fellowship is a one-year ACGME-accredited clinical program offered under the aegis of the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology and the Department of Neurological Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine.

Program Goals and Objectives

There are three primary goals of the Endovascular Surgical Neuroradiology (ESN) fellowship program. These goals are:

1.to provide clinical training encompassing essentially all areas of endovascular surgical neuroradiology

2.to provide an understanding of disease symptomatology and pathophysiology relating to those disease states which are amenable to treatment with endovascular surgical neuroradiology

3.to provide an opportunity for a meaningful and productive experience in research

 

Prerequisites

The key prerequisites for this fellowship can be found at the ACGME web site (http://www.acgme.org/title: Program Requirements for Residency Education in Endovascular Surgical Neuroradiology).One prerequisite is a year of diagnostic neuroradiology training.Successful applicants for the ESN fellowship will be offered a position in the diagnostic neuroradiology fellowship for the year prior to ESN training. If possible, we prefer that this training be done at our institution.

Clinical Service

The Interventional Neuroradiology Service is responsible for all endovascular neurosurgical procedures at Barnes Jewish and St. Louis Childrens Hospitals (http://www.nil.wustl.edu/~inr/index.html).There are three full-time neuro-endovascular faculty: Drs. DeWitte T. Cross, Colin P. Derdeyn, and Christopher J. Moran.The section is directed by Dr. Cross and the fellowship program is directed by Dr. Derdeyn.

In terms of equipment, we have two dedicated, state-of-the-art Siemens Neurostar units, with plans to replace one within the upcoming year.We are performing some cases in the experimental Stereotaxis suite, investigating the use of magnetic guidance under approved protocols (http://www.stereotaxis.com/neuro.html).We have the benefit of excellent non-invasive imaging through the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, with multiple MR scanners and multi-ring CT scanners.

Our clinical facilities and personnel are similarly impressive.Outpatients are generally seen in the new, patient-friendly, Center for Advanced Medicine, on the Washington University Medical School Campus (http://wuphysicians.wustl.edu/page.asp?pageID=33&NavID=6) .Inpatients are generally cared for in the Neurology/Neurosurgery Intensive Care Unit (http://www.neuro.wustl.edu/nnicu/), under the directed of Dr. Michael Diringer.Excellent neuro-anesthesia is also available for cases that require it.

The volume of endovascular procedures is large.The Neurovascular Program at Washington University, directed by Dr. Ralph G. Dacey, Jr. and attended by the three neuro-endovascular faculty, as well as Drs. Keith Rich, Robert Grubb, Jr., and Michael Chicoine,is a major referral center for patients with surgically, radio-surgically or endovascularly amenable cerebrovascular disease.For the past several years we have performed over 300 therapeutic neuro-endovascular cases annually, with progressive growth each year.The largest fraction of these cases are for the endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysms, accounting for nearly 100 procedures last year.Other common procedures include AVM embolization and carotid angioplasty.Many of the later are referred by large Stroke Neurology and Vascular Surgery services.Over 1000 diagnostic spinal and cerebral angiograms are performed each year.While these are generally performed by diagnostic neuroradiology fellows and radiology residents, some are performed by the ESN fellows.

In addition to endovascular training, the ESN fellows also learn to perform spinal intervention procedures under the supervision of Drs. Louis Gilula of the musculoskeletal section and Josh Shimony of neuroradiology.The spine intervention service performs a large volume of vertebroplasties, as well as nerve root and epidural injections.

ESN fellows are expected to participate in the full range of patient care activities.These include initial clinical evaluation, operative management, post-operative patient care, and follow up clinic visits.Over the course of the one-year fellowship, fellows are expected to assume increasing responsibility for each of these facets of patient care.

 

Research, Teaching and Conferences

In addition to a strong clinical experience, fellows will also have the opportunity to teach and supervise residents and medical students and will be expected to participate in meaningful research projects within the Department of Neurological Surgery and the Interventional Neuroradiology Service.There are several weekly conferences that we participate in as a service.

For more information or an application please write or call:

Colin P. Derdeyn. (Program Director)

derdeync@mir.wustl.edu

Pamela R. Jearls (Education Coordinator)
jearlsp@mir.wustl.edu

Interventional Neuroradiology Service
Washington University School of Medicine
Campus Box 8131
510 So. Kingshighway Blvd.
St. Louis, Missouri 63110-1076
Phone: 314/362-5950
Fax: 314/362-4886