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Dr. Derek Riebau, MD

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Specializes in: Vascular Neurology

University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Professional interests include: stroke, cerebrovascular disease, neurological disorders, and more.

1161 21st Avenue South A-0118 Medical Center North
Nashville-Davidson, TN 37232

(615) 322-3000

Dr. Derek Riebau, MD is a vascular neurologist in Nashville-Davidson, TN specializing in vascular neurology. He graduated from University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Dr. Derek Riebau, MD is affiliated with Vanderbilt Health, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) and Ballad Health.

Office Locations

Address:

1161 21st Avenue South A-0118 Medical Center North
Nashville-Davidson, TN 37232

Address:

1301 Medical Center Drive Suite 3930
Nashville, TN 37232

Address:

3601 The Vanderbilt Clinic
Nashville, TN 37232

Some issues Dr. Derek Riebau, MD can help you with:

Stroke

A stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when a blood vessel supplying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is ruptured or blocked. The brain cannot function without a steady supply of oxygen and nutrients, so when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, even for a brief moment, brain cells begin to die. When a sufficient number of brain cells die, the brain itself can no longer function, meaning that strokes are very dangerous. Strokes can result in impaired movement, speech, cognitive ability, the impairment of important physical functions, and even death.

Anyone can have a stroke, regardless of age and health. Strokes are known to happen at random. However, certain conditions and behaviors can increase one's risk of stroke over time.

Risk factors for stroke include:

Heart disease
Older age
Smoking
Diabetes
High blood pressure
High blood cholesterol and lipids

There are two main types of stroke: ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. Ischemic stroke occurs more commonly and is when a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked. Blockages are caused by blood clots and built-up plaque (deposits of fat and cholesterol), which leads to atherosclerosis, a condition where the blood vessels narrow and harden. The resultant restricted blood flow may lead to an ischemic stroke by blocking essential oxygen to the brain, causing the heart to exert more effort to pump blood.

Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in or around the brain ruptures. The burst vessel leaks blood into surrounding brain tissue, causing irreparable brain damage.

Hemorrhagic strokes are less common and may occur from head injuries, brain aneurysms, brain tumors, and bleeding disorders, amongst other conditions.

Both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes require immediate medical treatment. Medical intervention can prevent severe and life-threatening brain damage. Signs of stroke include:

-Disorientation or confusion

-Difficulty speaking

-Difficulty walking

-Impaired vision

-Weakness in the face, legs, or arms

-Severe headaches

When someone suspected of having a stroke reaches the hospital, the patient will usually receive a CT or other scan that provides an image of the brain. The scan results can reveal clotted or leaking blood in the brain. Physical exams, neurological exams, and blood tests may also be used to check for blood clotting and sugar. Treatment begins generally immediately if a stroke is detected.

Medical treatment for ischemic strokes includes a thrombolytic medicine which breaks up and disperses blood clots. This medicine can greatly improve stroke recovery and long-term health. However, the thrombolytic medicine must be administered as soon as possible to achieve these results. Other treatments for ischemic strokes are blood thinners and thrombectomy, a surgical procedure to remove a blood clot in the brain. Thrombectomy is performed by inserting a catheter (thin needle) into the artery to reach the blood clot and mechanically remove it. With the clot removed, normal blood flow to the brain resumes. Thrombectomy is typically performed at most six hours after a patient shows signs of a stroke.

Hemorrhagic strokes are treated with blood-saving medication and surgery. For a hemorrhagic stroke caused by the rupture of an aneurysm (blood vessel bulges), surgery to stem the bleeding aneurysm and vessel may be used. One surgical technique is stent-assisted coiling, which adds a stent (small wire-meshed tube) into the blood vessel to block the leaking opening of the aneurysm. A non-surgical procedure is endovascular coiling, where a catheter (thin, hollow needle) places a platinum wire coil at the spot of the aneurysm. The coil blocks bleeding and prevents the aneurysm from continuing to leak blood. These procedures are usually combined with blood-thickening medications. Blood transfusions may be administered if substantial blood loss has occurred.

Since stroke patients may have lost some essential functions while the blood flow to their brains was obstructed, both ischemic stroke and hemorrhage stroke patients may receive post-stroke rehabilitation to rebuild their physical and mental abilities. Some restorative treatments include occupational, physical, and speech therapy. Patients may also receive care from neurologists, who can assist patients in recovering certain brain functions and cognitive abilities, and rehabilitation psychologists, who may help patients with their emotional, behavioral, and cognitive recovery. Some stroke patients require lengthy rehabilitation and may never fully regain function, while others may recover more quickly. While the fastest recovery improvements are usually seen in the first three or four months, stroke rehabilitation can last for years.

If someone begins to show signs of stroke, contact emergency services and call 9-1-1 immediately since blood flow must be restored as soon as possible to help avoid significant brain damage. If an ambulance takes the person to the hospital, paramedics can initiate stroke treatment as soon as the patient enters the ambulance, allowing for more prompt medical intervention and care.

doctor visit	103
hospital care	244
inpatient care	230
outpatient care	14

**Gender**
Male	95
Female	111

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	183
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	68
From 75 to 84	55
85 and over	26
Less than 65	57

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	70
Stroke	68
Ischemic Heart Disease	54
Depression	35
Chronic Kidney Disease	36
Asthma	7
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	20
Heart Failure	30
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	24
Diabetes	40
Dementia	17
Cancer	10

doctor visit	89
hospital care	319
inpatient care	320

**Gender**
Male	119
Female	119

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	201
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	102
From 75 to 84	64
85 and over	29
Less than 65	43

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	75
Ischemic Heart Disease	55
Depression	40
Chronic Kidney Disease	45
Asthma	10
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	21
Heart Failure	32
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	21
Diabetes	46
Dementia	19
Cancer	11

doctor visit	104
hospital care	254
inpatient care	255

**Gender**
Male	244
Female	198

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	372
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	162
From 75 to 84	128
85 and over	60
Less than 65	92

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	70
Stroke	71
Ischemic Heart Disease	55
Depression	38
Chronic Kidney Disease	48
Asthma	16
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	24
Heart Failure	31
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	20
Diabetes	46
Dementia	24
Cancer	9

doctor visit	91
hospital care	252
inpatient care	253

**Gender**
Male	113
Female	115

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	202
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	88
From 75 to 84	65
85 and over	32
Less than 65	43

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	72
Stroke	66
Ischemic Heart Disease	60
Depression	35
Chronic Kidney Disease	50
Asthma	28
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	26
Heart Failure	34
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	25
Diabetes	43
Dementia	35
Cancer	12

doctor visit	95
hospital care	314
inpatient care	315

**Gender**
Male	141
Female	134

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	239
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	111
From 75 to 84	83
85 and over	30
Less than 65	51

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	71
Stroke	71
Ischemic Heart Disease	59
Depression	41
Chronic Kidney Disease	56
Asthma	7
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	25
Heart Failure	35
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	24
Diabetes	42
Dementia	29
Cancer	9

doctor visit	47
hospital care	226
inpatient care	227

**Gender**
Male	97
Female	71

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	147
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	76
From 75 to 84	45
85 and over	15
Less than 65	32

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	74
Ischemic Heart Disease	52
Depression	38
Chronic Kidney Disease	55
Asthma	7
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	23
Heart Failure	29
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	16
Diabetes	45
Dementia	19
Cancer	11

hospital care	145
inpatient care	146

**Gender**
Male	49
Female	41

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	78
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	26
From 75 to 84	34
85 and over	15
Less than 65	15

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	75
Ischemic Heart Disease	60
Depression	31
Chronic Kidney Disease	62
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	31
Heart Failure	42
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	26
Diabetes	50
Dementia	20
Cancer	12

hospital care	171
inpatient care	172

**Gender**
Male	35
Female	46

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	64
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	34
From 75 to 84	23
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	75
Ischemic Heart Disease	65
Depression	32
Chronic Kidney Disease	67
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	23
Heart Failure	43
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	17
Diabetes	51
Dementia	25
Cancer	0

hospital care	455
inpatient care	456

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Derek Riebau, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Derek Riebau, MD treated as a vascular neurologist in Nashville-Davidson, TN were hospital care, inpatient care and outpatient care.

doctor visit	88
hospital care	265
inpatient care	263
outpatient care	14

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Derek Riebau, MD.

**Gender**
Female	83
Male	89

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	0
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	148
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	0
Other	0

**Age**
85 and over	20
75 to 84	49
Less than 65	33
65 to 74	66

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Derek Riebau, MD From 2013 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Derek Riebau, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, stroke and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension	60
High Cholesterol	58
Stroke	57
Ischemic Heart Disease	46
Depression	29
Chronic Kidney Disease	41
Asthma	7
Osteoporosis	4
Heart Failure	27
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	17
Diabetes	36
Atrial Fibrillation	19
Cancer	7
Dementia	18

Education & Training

Dr. Derek Riebau, MD graduated from University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. He completed residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He is certified by the Neurology - American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and has a state license in Tennessee.

Medical School: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Residency: Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Board Certification: Neurology - American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (2006)

Licensed In: Tennessee

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Derek Riebau, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Vanderbilt Health

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC)

Ballad Health

Ratings & Reviews

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Biography

Dr. Derek Riebau works as a vascular neurology. His areas of expertise include the following: stroke, neurocritical care, and neurological disorders. He is affiliated with Ballad Health and Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC). Before completing his residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Dr. Riebau attended medical school at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.