Background Information

ELANA, Eximer Laser-Assisted Nonocclusive Anastomosis, is a technique using an eximer laser/catheter system for intracranial bypass surgery of the brain. The ELANA technique has been developed by Professor Tulleken from the University Medical Center (UMC) in Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Transplanted conduit bypass emerged as a valuable technique for the treatment of giant aneurisms,  certain skull base tumors, or special cases of cerebrovascular diseases in the 1980’s, but relied upon a significant period of flow arrest for creation of the bypass. This period of flow arrest is associated with an increased risk of stroke. 

The ELANA technique is designed to allow the operating surgeon  to connect a bypass graft to a major intracranial artery without any arrest of flow or occlusion time