Interdisciplinary neurovascular networks in Germany: update 2025

Tobias A. Wagner-Altendorf; Konrad Sieb; Ansgar Berlis; Arnd Dörfler; Dorothee Mielke; Christoph Groden; Erdem Güresir; Gerhard F. Hamann; Olav Jansen; Jürgen Meixensberger; Oliver Müller; Darius G. Nabavi; Tobias Neumann-Haefelin; Martin Ossenbrink; Jan Regelsberger; Georg Royl; Hartmut Vatter; Werner Weber; Nils Werring; Jens Minnerup; Joachim Röther

doi:10.1186/s42466-025-00418-8

Interdisciplinary neurovascular networks in Germany: update 2025

Tobias A. Wagner-Altendorf, Konrad Sieb, Ansgar Berlis, Arnd Dörfler, Dorothee Mielke, Christoph Groden, Erdem Güresir, Gerhard F. Hamann, Olav Jansen, Jürgen Meixensberger, Oliver Müller, Darius G. Nabavi, Tobias Neumann-Haefelin, Martin Ossenbrink, Jan Regelsberger, Georg Royl, Hartmut Vatter, Werner Weber, Nils Werring, Jens Minnerup^*Joachim Röther

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Neurology

Abstract

Background: Neurovascular networks (NVNs) in Germany are supra-regional care structures for patients with neurovascular diseases. Each NVN consists of a tertiary care center serving as the coordinating center—in some cases, two or three coordinating centers—and at least three partner hospitals. Since 2018, 19 neurovascular networks (NVNs) have been audited and certified. NVNs play a crucial role in stroke care in Germany, as first described and quantified in 2020. Methods: The present article provides an update on interdisciplinary NVNs in Germany and outlines recent developments in neurovascular patient care. Audit reports from 19 NVNs, certified between 2021 and 2024, were analyzed, and compared to previously reported data from 2017 to 2019. Additionally, structural and quality-related parameters for coordinating centers and partner hospitals were compared. Results: The number of NVNs increased from 15 to 19, with approximately 120,000 from an estimated 262,000 neurovascular patients in Germany now treated annually in certified NVN hospitals. In particular, annual thrombectomy rates at coordinating centers have increased over-proportionally (> 4400, as compared to previously < 2500), and surgical treatments for intracerebral hemorrhages have also increased. Process times—door-to-needle and door-to-groin times—remained stable or exhibited slight increases. Substantial variability was observed among NVN partner hospitals regarding procedural volumes. Conclusions: The treatment of patients with neurovascular diseases in Germany has expanded considerably within certified NVN hospitals in recent years. The NVNs ensure comprehensive, high-quality stroke care nationwide.

Original language	English
Article number	59
Journal	Neurological Research and Practice
Volume	7
Issue number	1
ISSN	2524-3489
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s42466-025-00418-8
Publication status	Published - 12.2025

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

DFG Research Classification Scheme

2.23-07 Clinical Neurology, Neurosurgery and Neuroradiology

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10.1186/s42466-025-00418-8

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Wagner-Altendorf, T. A., Sieb, K., Berlis, A., Dörfler, A., Mielke, D., Groden, C., Güresir, E., Hamann, G. F., Jansen, O., Meixensberger, J., Müller, O., Nabavi, D. G., Neumann-Haefelin, T., Ossenbrink, M., Regelsberger, J., Royl, G., Vatter, H., Weber, W., Werring, N., ... Röther, J. (2025). Interdisciplinary neurovascular networks in Germany: update 2025. Neurological Research and Practice, 7(1), Article 59. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42466-025-00418-8

@article{131bb4dba57749e096fc9a96c89d47e8,

title = "Interdisciplinary neurovascular networks in Germany: update 2025",

abstract = "Background: Neurovascular networks (NVNs) in Germany are supra-regional care structures for patients with neurovascular diseases. Each NVN consists of a tertiary care center serving as the coordinating center—in some cases, two or three coordinating centers—and at least three partner hospitals. Since 2018, 19 neurovascular networks (NVNs) have been audited and certified. NVNs play a crucial role in stroke care in Germany, as first described and quantified in 2020. Methods: The present article provides an update on interdisciplinary NVNs in Germany and outlines recent developments in neurovascular patient care. Audit reports from 19 NVNs, certified between 2021 and 2024, were analyzed, and compared to previously reported data from 2017 to 2019. Additionally, structural and quality-related parameters for coordinating centers and partner hospitals were compared. Results: The number of NVNs increased from 15 to 19, with approximately 120,000 from an estimated 262,000 neurovascular patients in Germany now treated annually in certified NVN hospitals. In particular, annual thrombectomy rates at coordinating centers have increased over-proportionally (> 4400, as compared to previously < 2500), and surgical treatments for intracerebral hemorrhages have also increased. Process times—door-to-needle and door-to-groin times—remained stable or exhibited slight increases. Substantial variability was observed among NVN partner hospitals regarding procedural volumes. Conclusions: The treatment of patients with neurovascular diseases in Germany has expanded considerably within certified NVN hospitals in recent years. The NVNs ensure comprehensive, high-quality stroke care nationwide.",

author = "Wagner-Altendorf, \{Tobias A.\} and Konrad Sieb and Ansgar Berlis and Arnd D{\"o}rfler and Dorothee Mielke and Christoph Groden and Erdem G{\"u}resir and Hamann, \{Gerhard F.\} and Olav Jansen and J{\"u}rgen Meixensberger and Oliver M{\"u}ller and Nabavi, \{Darius G.\} and Tobias Neumann-Haefelin and Martin Ossenbrink and Jan Regelsberger and Georg Royl and Hartmut Vatter and Werner Weber and Nils Werring and Jens Minnerup and Joachim R{\"o}ther",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2025.",

year = "2025",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1186/s42466-025-00418-8",

language = "English",

volume = "7",

journal = "Neurological Research and Practice",

issn = "2524-3489",

publisher = "Springer Medizin",

number = "1",

}

Wagner-Altendorf, TA , Sieb, K, Berlis, A, Dörfler, A, Mielke, D, Groden, C, Güresir, E, Hamann, GF, Jansen, O, Meixensberger, J, Müller, O, Nabavi, DG, Neumann-Haefelin, T, Ossenbrink, M, Regelsberger, J, Royl, G, Vatter, H, Weber, W, Werring, N , Minnerup, J & Röther, J 2025, 'Interdisciplinary neurovascular networks in Germany: update 2025', Neurological Research and Practice, vol. 7, no. 1, 59. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42466-025-00418-8

TY - JOUR

T1 - Interdisciplinary neurovascular networks in Germany

T2 - update 2025

AU - Wagner-Altendorf, Tobias A.

AU - Sieb, Konrad

AU - Berlis, Ansgar

AU - Dörfler, Arnd

AU - Mielke, Dorothee

AU - Groden, Christoph

AU - Güresir, Erdem

AU - Hamann, Gerhard F.

AU - Jansen, Olav

AU - Meixensberger, Jürgen

AU - Müller, Oliver

AU - Nabavi, Darius G.

AU - Neumann-Haefelin, Tobias

AU - Ossenbrink, Martin

AU - Regelsberger, Jan

AU - Royl, Georg

AU - Vatter, Hartmut

AU - Weber, Werner

AU - Werring, Nils

AU - Minnerup, Jens

AU - Röther, Joachim

PY - 2025/12

Y1 - 2025/12

N2 - Background: Neurovascular networks (NVNs) in Germany are supra-regional care structures for patients with neurovascular diseases. Each NVN consists of a tertiary care center serving as the coordinating center—in some cases, two or three coordinating centers—and at least three partner hospitals. Since 2018, 19 neurovascular networks (NVNs) have been audited and certified. NVNs play a crucial role in stroke care in Germany, as first described and quantified in 2020. Methods: The present article provides an update on interdisciplinary NVNs in Germany and outlines recent developments in neurovascular patient care. Audit reports from 19 NVNs, certified between 2021 and 2024, were analyzed, and compared to previously reported data from 2017 to 2019. Additionally, structural and quality-related parameters for coordinating centers and partner hospitals were compared. Results: The number of NVNs increased from 15 to 19, with approximately 120,000 from an estimated 262,000 neurovascular patients in Germany now treated annually in certified NVN hospitals. In particular, annual thrombectomy rates at coordinating centers have increased over-proportionally (> 4400, as compared to previously < 2500), and surgical treatments for intracerebral hemorrhages have also increased. Process times—door-to-needle and door-to-groin times—remained stable or exhibited slight increases. Substantial variability was observed among NVN partner hospitals regarding procedural volumes. Conclusions: The treatment of patients with neurovascular diseases in Germany has expanded considerably within certified NVN hospitals in recent years. The NVNs ensure comprehensive, high-quality stroke care nationwide.

AB - Background: Neurovascular networks (NVNs) in Germany are supra-regional care structures for patients with neurovascular diseases. Each NVN consists of a tertiary care center serving as the coordinating center—in some cases, two or three coordinating centers—and at least three partner hospitals. Since 2018, 19 neurovascular networks (NVNs) have been audited and certified. NVNs play a crucial role in stroke care in Germany, as first described and quantified in 2020. Methods: The present article provides an update on interdisciplinary NVNs in Germany and outlines recent developments in neurovascular patient care. Audit reports from 19 NVNs, certified between 2021 and 2024, were analyzed, and compared to previously reported data from 2017 to 2019. Additionally, structural and quality-related parameters for coordinating centers and partner hospitals were compared. Results: The number of NVNs increased from 15 to 19, with approximately 120,000 from an estimated 262,000 neurovascular patients in Germany now treated annually in certified NVN hospitals. In particular, annual thrombectomy rates at coordinating centers have increased over-proportionally (> 4400, as compared to previously < 2500), and surgical treatments for intracerebral hemorrhages have also increased. Process times—door-to-needle and door-to-groin times—remained stable or exhibited slight increases. Substantial variability was observed among NVN partner hospitals regarding procedural volumes. Conclusions: The treatment of patients with neurovascular diseases in Germany has expanded considerably within certified NVN hospitals in recent years. The NVNs ensure comprehensive, high-quality stroke care nationwide.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105013888371

U2 - 10.1186/s42466-025-00418-8

DO - 10.1186/s42466-025-00418-8

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:105013888371

SN - 2524-3489

VL - 7

JO - Neurological Research and Practice

JF - Neurological Research and Practice

IS - 1

M1 - 59

ER -

Interdisciplinary neurovascular networks in Germany: update 2025

Abstract

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