Minimally- and non-invasive procedures
06/01/2011
Providence neurosurgeons lead the region in minimally invasive procedures. These techniques allow them to treat conditions without surgery and with few, if any, incisions. Listen to Pankaj Gore, M.D., co-medical director of Providence Cranial Services at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, as he discusses the advances of minimally invasive procedures.
Compared to traditional surgeries, these procedures cause you less pain, less scarring and less risk of post-operative complications, and result in shorter hospital stays.
Gamma Knife Perfexion: The newest radiosurgery technology in the Northwest is housed at Providence Portland Medical Center. It uses precisely focused gamma rays to destroy complex brain lesions without surgery. Patients generally return home to normal activities within hours of treatment. Medical director Stephen Seung, M.D., talks with KOIN News 6 about this nonsurgical treatment of brain tumors.
Bi-plane catheterization lab: Providence St. Vincent Medical Center is home to the region's most advanced cranial procedure lab. Here, without performing surgery, physicians can remove blood clots (which cause strokes) from the brain and can repair weak arteries (aneurysms) in the brain.
Endoscopic neurosurgery: Providence surgeons are improving care through endoscopic neurosurgery, an advanced procedure that uses a slender fiber-optic camera to improve visibility and guide access to hard-to-reach tumors in the brain.
Advances in epilepsy treatment: If medication cannot control a patient’s epileptic seizures, Providence neurosurgeons may surgically remove tumors, scars or other brain lesions that contribute to seizures. In some cases, they can implant a vagus nerve stimulator to lessen the frequency of seizures.