Cerebral vascular malformation surgery

Cerebral vascular malformations encompass several abnormalities of the brain's blood vessels: aneurysms (dilation of an artery), arteriovenous malformations (abnormal communication between arteries and veins) and cavernomas (clusters of small fragile vessels). Discovered after a bleed or incidentally during imaging, they require specialized evaluation. Treatment depends on the type of malformation, its location and its history: some require simple monitoring, others endovascular treatment, and others surgery. The decision is always made in multidisciplinary consultation, on a case-by-case basis, carefully weighing the benefit and risk of each option. When surgery is chosen, it is performed under the operating microscope with the help of neuronavigation: exclusion of an aneurysm by placing a clip, removal of a cavernoma or of an accessible arteriovenous malformation. Neurophysiological monitoring secures the procedure in functional areas. At Clinique Pasteur Tunis, this highly specialized surgery benefits from a state-of-the-art technical platform — neurosurgical microscope, neuronavigation, high-resolution imaging — and a dedicated multipurpose intensive care unit that closely supervises the post-operative course.