John, 75, and his wife, Christine, went to Eric Eskioglu, M.D., Director of Lee Memorial Health System’s Vascular/ Endovascular Neurosurgery at HealthPark Medical Center. The diagnosis: John had a blockage in his carotid artery and one in a brain artery.

Stenting the carotid artery to restore blood flow has become
fairly commonplace. However, it’s only been in the last two years that someone with a blockage in a brain artery had an alternative. Dr. Eskioglu and his practice partner, Brian Mason, M.D., are the only doctors in the area who can unblock clogged arteries in the brain, called “brain stenting.”

The technique is so specialized that Drs. Eskioglu and Mason
opened a new practice that focuses exclusively on arteries in the brain and neck: Cerebrovascular Specialists of Florida. “We have treated 25 patients at our HealthPark facility in the past two years, from as far north as Tampa to as far south as Naples. A good portion of our patients are referred by physicians from Naples,” Dr. Eskioglu says.

Brain stenting involves using a Wingspan™ brain stent, which
is a mesh stent small enough to fit into the brain’s tiny vessels.
The stent opens up the artery and restores blood flow in the
brain. Patients recover relatively quickly from the procedure.

Many people who have blocked arteries in the brain have a
three- to four-year history of transient ischemic attacks, or
strokes, before they are ever diagnosed, Dr. Eskioglu says.
“Due to limited treatment options in the past, the arteries in
the brain are often overlooked. They are like the proverbial
stepchild,” he says.

Clogged arteries are often caused by high cholesterol, coronary
artery disease and smoking. A family history also comes into
play, he says. John is now a reformed smoker, he says. “I guess I
was on my last legs and didn’t know it,” John says. “My life has
also improved. I am more aware, and my memory is better.”

“Dr. Eskioglu said he could do nothing for me if I didn’t quit
smoking,” John also says. “That man is a rock star!”

The most common stroke symptoms include temporary
blindness, speech difficulty and temporary weakness in the
arms. If you think you may be having a stroke, call 911 to go to
the nearest Emergency Department immediately.

Drs. Eskioglu and Mason are also trained to treat acute stroke
in selective cases by introducing catheters into the brain
to inject clot dissolving medicine and/or by mechanically
removing the clot. They are working in conjunction with
LMHS to develop a comprehensive stroke center to address
these patients who usually require emergent treatment within six hours of onset of their symptoms.

In the Endovascular Suite at HPMC, Drs. Eskioglu and Mason also perform stenting procedures outside the brain, most commonly on the carotid artery in the neck. This minimally invasive procedure is performed while the patient is awake. “Most patients are up and eating lunch a few hours after the surgery,”
Dr. Eskioglu says, adding that Dr. Mason and he were selected as primary investigators for two national clinical trials focused exclusively on carotid stenting.

The endovascular surgeons are also the only ones in the area to offer the ONYX™ procedure, a minimally invasive treatment for brain aneurysms. ONYX™ is a putty-like substance used to
fill in the aneurysm, preventing it from rupturing and killing
the patient. “We are currently the only center in the country
with two physicians who can do these procedures,” Dr. Eskioglu says.

The most common symptoms of a ruptured aneurysm include
having “the worst headache of your life,” and neck stiffness
with nausea and vomiting.

Eric Eskioglu, M.D.
Brian J. Mason, M.D.
Cerebrovascular Specialists of Florida
9981 HealthPark Circle
Suite 120
Fort Myers, FL 33908
Office 239-343-8830
Fax 239-343-8833

For more information about endovascular therapy at Lee Memorial Health System, click here.

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