Mischer Neuroscience Institute

Centers of Excellence

Cerebrovascular Center

The Cerebrovascular Center at the Mischer Neuroscience Institute is a multidisciplinary, subspecialty program dedicated to the treatment of patients with complex cerebrovascular disorders including stroke, aneurysms, carotid occlusive disease and vascular malformations. Led by neurosurgeon Dong H. Kim, M.D., and neurologist James C. Grotta, M.D., the Cerebrovascular Center takes a team approach in developing the best treatment plan for each patient – from drug therapy to surgery to interventional radiological/endovascular procedures.

The neurosurgery staff at the cerebrovascular center is skilled at treatment options for ruptured and unruptured aneurysms, including microvascular clipping and endovascular embolization. The team performs more surgeries for cerebral aneuryms and arteriovenous malformations than any other center in South Texas. In patients with carotid occlusive disease, the team continues to produce outstanding outcomes following carotid endarterectomy. Patients with carotid occlusive disease also have the option of carotid stenting as an alternative to endarterectomy.

The stroke team at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center is the first Joint Commission-accredited Primary Stroke Center in the region. The stroke team treats more than 10 times the national average of patients with approved stroke therapies. The center is one of a handful funded by the National Institutes of Health to research exciting new stroke treatments.

In addition, our telemedicine program extends stroke and neurology expertise to community hospitals throughout Texas. Outlying hospitals are linked electronically to the stroke team, providing real-time visual interaction between the stroke team and patients and allowing neurologists at the Mischer Neuroscience Institute to review CT scans and advise local physicians on treatment options.

Conditions Treated

• Arteriovenous Malformation
• Atherosclerosis and carotid and vertebral artery stenosis
• Brain Aneurysm
• Cerebral embolism
• Cerebral thrombosis
• Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis
• Coagulation (blood clotting) disorders
• Dissection of carotid and vertebral artery
• Intracerebral hemorrhage
• Moya-Moya
• Patent Foramen Ovale
• Subarachnoid hemorrhage
• Transient ischemic attack
• Vascular dementia
• Vasculitis