Disorders

Research Grant - 2024

Research Category: Cerebrovascular incl. Stroke, aneurysms, AVM

Dr Craig Winter was the recipient of Brain Foundation grant funding in 2024

Cerebrovascular incl. Stroke, aneurysms, AVM

Cerebrovascular incl. Stroke, aneurysms, AVM
Informed Choices: A Software Solution for Brain Aneurysm Treatment Planning
Dr Craig Winter
Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital
Co-Investigators : Prof Zhiyong Li, Dr Jessica Benitez, Ms Haveena Anbananthan

Watch Dr Craig Winter accept the research grant award and hear a bit about the project.

Project Summary:

Brain aneurysms, or intracranial aneurysms, affect around 3.3% of the population, and their rupture can lead to severe disability or death. High-risk aneurysms are treated with either open brain surgery (craniotomy) or minimally invasive endovascular techniques. Although choosing between these broad treatment options is relatively straightforward, determining the most appropriate endovascular approach is more complex. Endovascular procedures include coiling, coiling with stenting, and using flow-diverting stents, all of which require careful consideration of the aneurysm’s geometry, including its size, shape, sac dimensions, and the alignment of parent vessels.

While experienced interventional neuroradiologists can make these decisions quickly, newer specialists and those still in training may find the process more challenging. To assist in this decision-making, we are developing a software solution that simplifies the retrieval of past case data, allowing clinicians to reference similar cases and outcomes with ease. The software will analyse aneurysm geometry and extract treatment records from previous endovascular procedures conducted at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) in Brisbane. Serving as a “smart search” tool, it will enable efficient access to critical treatment data for RBWH clinicians, supporting both experienced and less-experienced interventional neuroradiologists.

Once fully developed and tested, we plan to expand the software’s capabilities by incorporating a more extensive database of patient records from hospitals across Australia. This expansion aims to provide clinicians nationwide with a comprehensive resource for improving treatment planning, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes in neuroradiology departments across the country.

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