The Johns Hopkins Aneurysm Center excels at prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care for patients with aneurysms. Seeing more than 200 aneurysm cases annually, our team has expertise in diagnosing and treating ruptured and unruptured aneurysms and are the leaders in treatment of complex aneurysm recurrences. We evaluate each patient to determine the best therapy or combination of treatments for each situation.
Why Choose Johns Hopkins Aneurysm Center
Advanced Expertise
You can have confidence in our surgeons, who are skilled in new, sophisticated procedures designed to manage brain aneurysms of all sizes and types.
Comprehensive Approach
Experts in surgery, medicine, nursing and allied health focus on a cooperative, multi-specialty approach that covers every aspect of aneurysm care.
Ongoing Research
Every treatment you receive is based on science. Our research aims to inform better aneurysm diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
About Brain Aneurysms
Neurosurgeon Rafael Tamargo, M.D., Director of Johns Hopkins Aneurysm Center, explains what a brain aneurysm is, what steps to take if you have this diagnosis, available surgical options and anticipated results from each treatment approach.
Learn more about brain aneurysms
Patient Stories
Ophthalmic Nerve Aneurysm | Les Picker's Story
Ruptured Brain Aneurysm | Dr. Olachi Mezu's Story
Our Approach to Repeat Aneurysms
About twenty percent of patients who had an aneurysm go on to have multiple aneurysms, often on opposite sides of the brain. Moreover, some aneurysms that are treated with endovascular surgery will come back.
The Johns Hopkins Aneurysm Center specializes in treating complex aneurysm recurrences, leading the field of neurosurgery expertise by using a combined open and endovascular approach for aneurysms that have recurred. Traditionally, surgeons perform two separate operations, one for each side of the brain. Dr. Rafael Tamargo is among a handful of surgeons worldwide to use a one-surgery, contralateral approach.
Treatment options for aneurysms that have recurred may include:
- Coiling the aneurysm again using endovascular stent coiling
- Bypass the blood flow of the vessel using flow diversion with stents
- Open microsurgery
The Johns Hopkins Aneurysm Center is one of only a few centers in the United States that successfully performs open microsurgery on previously coiled aneurysms.
Brain Aneurysm Specialists
Appointments and Referrals
To help us make the most of your visit, we request that you or your referring physician fax your most recent imaging reports (CT, CTA, MRI, MRA, Angiogram) to 410-367-2749. Do not send films or CDs to us in advance. Bring those to your scheduled appointment.
Once we have your information, one of our team members will review your records and call you to discuss appointment recommendations.
Physicians may also call our Hopkins Access Line (HAL Line) 24/7 at 1-800-765-5447.
Clinical Trials
Post-Approval Study - Post-Market Surveillance Study to Evaluate the Long-Term Safety and Effectiveness of the WEB Device
- Contact: Whitney Isennock, RN, MSN (667-306-8145 or [email protected])
- Principal Investigator: Dr. Justin Caplan
- Objective: To evaluate the long-term safety and effectiveness of the FDA-approved WEB Aneurysm Embolization System (WEB) device in the treatment of specific aneurysms.
- Eligibility Criteria: Adults with ruptured or unruptured wide-neck bifurcation aneurysms that have not been previously treated.
- More information on clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04839705
MicroVention, Inc. Flow Re-Direction Endoluminal Device X (FRED™ X™) Post-Approval Study
- Contact: Whitney Isennock, RN, MSN (667-306-8145 or [email protected])
- Principal Investigator: Dr. Justin Caplan
- Objective: To evaluate the long-term safety and effectiveness of the FDA-approved FRED™ X™ in treating wide-necked brain aneurysms.
- Eligibility Criteria: Adults 22 to 75 years old with a wide-necked brain aneurysm that meet specific measurement requirements.
- More information on clinicaltrials.gov: NCT05409989
Doorways to Discovery | Shifting the Vasospasm Paradigm
Rafael Tamargo, M.D. discusses his research on a new paradigm of inflammatory injury after bleeding in the brain.
