Stroke and Neurovascular Disorders

Certain conditions, including stroke, affect blood vessels in and around the brain. These neurovascular (cerebrovascular) disorders fall into two categories: they either stop blood from reaching the brain or they cause bleeding inside the brain.

Symptoms are often sudden and life-threatening. They may include severe headache, blurry vision, slurred speech, confusion or weak muscles. It’s vital to get medical care right away to prevent disability or death.

PeaceHealth offers neurovascular services for children and adults. When we can, we diagnose and treat patients early to prevent a health crisis. If you need emergency care you'll find yourself in experthands.

Stroke Prevention and Action Plan

Check your risk factors and make a plan for prevention.

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Stroke and neurovascular care at PeaceHealth

When minutes count, you can count on PeaceHealth.

Partnership with local EMS

PeaceHealth and out local EMS providers use a stroke alert system to make sure patients get rapid diagnosis and treatment. First responders let us know when they’re heading to our hospital with a possible stroke patient. When they arrive, our emergency department is ready to provide care right away.

Highly coordinated hospital care

The team at PeaceHealth includes doctors called neurohospitalists. They provide hospital care only to patients with neurovascular disorders. This means you can expect a level of care, attention and support not found in every hospital.

You have access to accredited stroke rehabilitation

Our inpatient rehabilitation center is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. Patients cared for in accredited facilities often improve their functional abilities more quickly. This means they can return to their homes instead of a skilled nursing facility.

Conditions We Treat

Arteriovenous malformation (AVM)

Brain AVMs occur when some arteries and veins in the brain aren’t connected properly. They often resemble a tangled ball of string. They have a high risk of rupturing, which causes bleeding in the brain.

Brain aneurysm

Aneurysms are weak spots in arteries. They swell with blood, like a balloon filling with air. If the swollen area bursts, blood leaks into the brain.

Carotid artery disease

Your carotid arteries are a pair of large blood vessels in your neck. If plaque builds up inside them, they may become narrow or blocked. This reduces blood flow to the brain. Types of carotid artery disease include carotid artery stenosis, occlusion and dissection. 

Cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM)

CCMs affect tiny blood vessels that connect capillaries (veins and arteries). These capillaries are often thin and weak. In the case of CCMs, blood pools inside capillaries until they burst.

Hemorrhagic stroke

This type of stroke occurs when a blood vessel inside the brain bursts open.

Ischemic stroke

These strokes occur when a blood clot gets stuck in a blood vessel. This prevents blood and oxygen from reaching your brain.

Transient ischemic attack (TIA)

TIAs occur when blood flow to the brain is briefly blocked, then restored. Temporary symptoms may include slurred speech, arm weakness or vision problems.

Treatments Provided

Behavioral health (stroke and neurovascular disorders)

Behavioral health specialists help you overcome challenges with neurovascular problems. We offer inpatient care, day treatment programs and one-on-one and group counseling.

Diagnostic testing (stroke and neurovascular disorders)

Various tests pinpoint what’s causing your symptoms. You may need brain scans, heart imaging procedures or blood flow tests. These include CT, MRI, carotid ultrasound, cerebral angiograms and echocardiograms.

Endovascular procedures

These minimally invasive treatments help remove blood clots or fix blood vessels. They include aneurysm coiling, embolization, thrombectomy and angioplasty and stenting.

Medicine management (stroke and neurovascular disorders)

Medicines help prevent or treat neurovascular problems. If your stroke risk is high, you may need to take daily medicine that stops blood clots from forming. If you’ve had a stroke caused by a blood clot, you may be given medicine that dissolves the clot. 

Neuropsychology services

Neuropsychologists perform tests to measure many areas of brain function; they also recommend treatments. We'll help you address memory loss, problem-solving, personality changes and other issues.

Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation (stroke and neurovascular disorders)

Rehabilitation professionals include physical, occupational and speech therapists. They help you learn or regain abilities affected by neurovascular problems. Our rehabilitation services include inpatient (hospital) and outpatient care.

Prevention strategies (stroke and neurovascular disorders)

Your PeaceHealth doctor will help you lower your risk of neurovascular problems. You may need to quit smoking, lose weight, exercise, lower your blood pressure or manage your blood sugar.

Stereotactic radiosurgery (Gamma Knife surgery)

This procedure uses radiation to treat certain neurovascular disorders, including AVMs and cavernous malformations. It is also known as Gamma Knife surgery.

Surgery (stroke and neurovascular disorders)

Neurosurgeons at PeaceHealth offer traditional “open” surgery to treat certain neurovascular disorders. Procedures include aneurysm clipping, carotid endarterectomy and cerebral artery bypass surgery.

All Stroke and Neurovascular Disorders Locations