Swedish Medical Center Performs First MRI-Guided Laser Surgery for Revolutionary New Epilepsy Treatment
New minimally invasive approach offers a safer and less invasive surgical treatment for epilepsy.
Englewood, CO, July 24, 2020 --(PR.com)-- HCA Healthcare/HealthONE’s Swedish Medical Center is now offering the use of real-time MRI-guided thermal imaging and laser technology to treat epilepsy and other neurological disorders.
This new surgical approach offers a safer and significantly less invasive alternative to craniotomy, currently the most commonly used surgery for epilepsy. Laser thermal therapy has been paradigm-shifting in epilepsy, particularly for deep brain lesions, because the MRI-guided laser probe creates a smaller corridor in the brain, reducing damage to surrounding brain tissue. As a result, patients have shorter hospital stays and fewer complications. The MRI-guided laser probe is inserted through a hole in the skull that is only 3.2 millimeters wide (about the diameter of a pen) versus the much larger bony opening required for a craniotomy. The skin is closed with a single absorbable stitch. Because it is a less invasive procedure than craniotomy, patient recovery time tends to be quicker.
The laser ablation procedure was performed this week on a patient at Swedish Medical Center, a level 4 epilepsy center in Englewood, Colorado. "We’re excited to offer this minimally invasive therapy. Laser ablation we hope will provide this young patient a cure from seizures. It is just one of the comprehensive set of therapies we offer for epilepsy. Laser ablation has also shown promise for a variety of other brain disorders, including tumors and vascular malformations,” said Matthew Mian, MD, a functional neurosurgeon who performed the procedure.
The surgery is performed by inserting a laser fiber through the skull in the operating room. The patient is then transferred to an MRI unit where the ablation is performed. The MRI confirms probe placement in the target, and it also provides real-time feedback as the target tissue is heated by the laser. The system includes an automatic safety trigger to prevent damage to nearby critical brain structures.
To learn more about Swedish’s nationally recognized level 4 epilepsy center, please visit SwedishHospital.com/epilepsy.
About Swedish
Swedish Medical Center is located in the south metro Denver area where it has been a proud member of the community for more than 110 years. An acute care hospital with 408 licensed beds, annually Swedish cares for more than 200,000 patients with a team of approximately 2,000 dedicated employees, 300 volunteers and 1,400 physicians.
With stroke door to treatment times averaging just 20 minutes, Swedish serves as the Rocky Mountain Region’s referral center for the most advanced stroke treatment, and was the state’s first Joint Commission certified Comprehensive Stroke Center. Swedish also serves as the region’s neurotrauma and orthopedic trauma provider and is a level I trauma facility with a dedicated burn and reconstructive center. Over 150 facilities regularly transfer highly complex cases to Swedish.
Swedish Medical Center is proud to be a part of the HCA Healthcare’s Continental Division, which includes HealthONE, named the #1 large hospital system in the United States by IBM Watson Health as part of the 15 Top Health Systems recognition process. And, as the #7 corporate philanthropist in the Denver-metro area, and the only hospital system in the top 10, HealthONE contributed more than $1.6 million in 2019 and supports over 150 organizations through cash and in-kind donations. Additional information is available at www.SwedishHospital.com.
This new surgical approach offers a safer and significantly less invasive alternative to craniotomy, currently the most commonly used surgery for epilepsy. Laser thermal therapy has been paradigm-shifting in epilepsy, particularly for deep brain lesions, because the MRI-guided laser probe creates a smaller corridor in the brain, reducing damage to surrounding brain tissue. As a result, patients have shorter hospital stays and fewer complications. The MRI-guided laser probe is inserted through a hole in the skull that is only 3.2 millimeters wide (about the diameter of a pen) versus the much larger bony opening required for a craniotomy. The skin is closed with a single absorbable stitch. Because it is a less invasive procedure than craniotomy, patient recovery time tends to be quicker.
The laser ablation procedure was performed this week on a patient at Swedish Medical Center, a level 4 epilepsy center in Englewood, Colorado. "We’re excited to offer this minimally invasive therapy. Laser ablation we hope will provide this young patient a cure from seizures. It is just one of the comprehensive set of therapies we offer for epilepsy. Laser ablation has also shown promise for a variety of other brain disorders, including tumors and vascular malformations,” said Matthew Mian, MD, a functional neurosurgeon who performed the procedure.
The surgery is performed by inserting a laser fiber through the skull in the operating room. The patient is then transferred to an MRI unit where the ablation is performed. The MRI confirms probe placement in the target, and it also provides real-time feedback as the target tissue is heated by the laser. The system includes an automatic safety trigger to prevent damage to nearby critical brain structures.
To learn more about Swedish’s nationally recognized level 4 epilepsy center, please visit SwedishHospital.com/epilepsy.
About Swedish
Swedish Medical Center is located in the south metro Denver area where it has been a proud member of the community for more than 110 years. An acute care hospital with 408 licensed beds, annually Swedish cares for more than 200,000 patients with a team of approximately 2,000 dedicated employees, 300 volunteers and 1,400 physicians.
With stroke door to treatment times averaging just 20 minutes, Swedish serves as the Rocky Mountain Region’s referral center for the most advanced stroke treatment, and was the state’s first Joint Commission certified Comprehensive Stroke Center. Swedish also serves as the region’s neurotrauma and orthopedic trauma provider and is a level I trauma facility with a dedicated burn and reconstructive center. Over 150 facilities regularly transfer highly complex cases to Swedish.
Swedish Medical Center is proud to be a part of the HCA Healthcare’s Continental Division, which includes HealthONE, named the #1 large hospital system in the United States by IBM Watson Health as part of the 15 Top Health Systems recognition process. And, as the #7 corporate philanthropist in the Denver-metro area, and the only hospital system in the top 10, HealthONE contributed more than $1.6 million in 2019 and supports over 150 organizations through cash and in-kind donations. Additional information is available at www.SwedishHospital.com.
Contact
Swedish Medical Center
Kara Hamersky
(303) 817-5708
www.swedishhospital.com
Kara Hamersky
(303) 817-5708
www.swedishhospital.com
Contact
Categories