Thursday, May 23, 2013

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3/14/2013 - West Side Leader
     

By Staff Writer

Photo courtesy of Akron General Medical Center

DOWNTOWN AKRON — Surgery suites at Akron General Medical Center’s Neuroscience Institute now feature intraoperative MRI and intraoperative CT systems, shown at right, offering advanced treatment and technology. According to Akron General officials, it is one of only four hospitals in the nation to offer both intraoperative scanning systems, as well as a state-of-the-art biplane angiographic suite.

Brainsuite® iMRI and iCT suites, installed by software-driven medical technology manufacturer Brainlab, allow for real-time imaging during surgical procedures. Images taken during surgery are compared to images taken prior to surgery to ensure accuracy and preserve normal, healthy tissue and important neural pathways, according to Akron General officials. Applications include brain tumors, pituitary tumors, epilepsy, spinal fusion, trauma, bleeds, orthopedic conditions and breast and liver surgery.

“Previously, a patient would undergo surgery, then a day or two later have an MRI or CT to check the success of the surgery, then go back into surgery, if necessary,” said Dr. Sarel “Charl” Vorster, medical director of the Neuroscience Institute. “With intraoperative scanning, the need for these steps is eliminated. The imaging is performed while the patient is still under anesthetic, and further surgical action, if needed, is taken right at that moment.”

The biplane angiographic suite focuses on the minimally invasive treatment of cerebrovascular disorders such as strokes, aneurysms and arterial-venous malformations of the brain and spinal cord. It can also be used to provide adjunctive treatments for brain and spinal tumors, as well as treatment for spinal fractures.

The spectrum of care provided by Akron General’s Neuroscience Institute also includes a Neuro Intensive Care Unit dedicated to patients with neurological conditions, as well as Gamma Knife radiosurgical technology for brain tumors, both opened in 2012. Akron General’s Gamma Knife Center is one of only five in the state, according to hospital officials.

For more information, visit www.akrongeneral.org/neuro.