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                          JeffNEWS, August 1, 1995
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Cerebrovascular Surgery and Interventional Neuroradiology Division
Created at Jefferson 
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Thomas Jefferson University Hospital recently instituted a division of 
cerebrovascular surgery and interventional neuroradiology within the 
department of neurosurgery.

Robert Rosenwasser, MD, a Jefferson neurosurgeon and chief of 
cerebrovascular surgery and interventional neuroradiology, has been 
appointed director of this new division by Frederick Simeone, MD, chairman 
of neurosurgery at Jefferson. The division will focus on the comprehensive 
management of vascular diseases of the brain and spinal cord, and of 
radiologic interventions as they relate to head and neck pathology.  The new 
division will also manage both occlusive and hemorrhagic vascular disease.

"We are the first comprehensive division that combines cerebrovascular 
surgery, interventional neuroradiology, open microsurgery and non invasive 
techniques," said Dr. Rosenwasser, one of only five neurosurgeons in North 
America who performs interventional neurovascular procedures, as well as 
open cerebrovascular surgery.

Dr. Simeone said, "This division will allow us to explore techniques that 
involve less invasive surgery.  We can also develop a fellowship program 
that will teach young doctors how to use non invasive surgery."

Dr. Rosenwasser and a medical team, which is the result of a cooperative 
alliance in neurosurgery among Jefferson, Wills Eye and Pennsylvania 
hospitals, will explore angioplasty of the brain as an alternative to 
carotid endarterectomy.  The use of interventional neuroradiological 
techniques for the treatment of cerebral aneurysms and aorteriovenious 
maleromations of the brain and spinal cord is a burgeoning new field, in 
which the three hospitals are equipped to make great strides.  Along with 
such clinical applications will be the development of finer instrumentation. 
According to Dr. Rosenwasser, even the most delicate instruments that are 
used for the heart are too crude for use in the arteries of the brain and 
spinal cord.

The division of cerebrovascular surgery and interventional neuroradiology 
will offer a fellowship each year. The first fellow joins Dr. Rosenwasser in  
July.


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Information provided by:  Editor, JeffNEWS
                          (215) 955-6204
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