Surgery takes only minutes to complete, improves patient outcomes
Doctors at the new Marcus Neuroscience Institute have treated their first
brain aneurysm case using the innovative Pipeline™ embolization
device. The minimally invasive endovascular procedure treats over-sized
aneurysms in a matter of minutes and usually results in a full recovery
for the patient.
In this aneurysm case at the Institute, the patient presented with headaches
and a loss of function in her right eye, which had developed over two
weeks. An MRI showed a large aneurysm acting as a “roadblock”
that forced the patient’s nerves to go around it. This detour stretched
the nerves and created extra pressure, which caused the headaches and
drooping of the eye on one side.
“The nerves don’t mind being moved, but only to a point,”
says Shaye Moskowitz, MD, PhD, Director of Cerebrovascular and Endovascular
Neurosurgery at the Institute, who performed the procedure. “When
the aneurysm grows to the size that it’s stretching the nerves so
far, the nerves just stop working. In her case, it was the nerves that
make the eyeball move.”
Traditional methods for treating aneurysms include filling it with platinum
coils or clipping the aneurysm across its neck to stop blood from further
filling the aneurysm. However, surgery in this region is extremely dangerous
and an aneurysm this size is likely to come back if coiled. Thus, the
Pipeline™ procedure has proven most effective.
The Pipeline™ embolization device is a small stent of cylindrical
mesh that, once inserted into the vessel, redirects blood flow and allows
the aneurysm to remodel itself. Within a few minutes, the grape-like aneurysm
shrivels to about the size of a raisin. The stent eventually becomes incorporated
into the blood vessel wall like rebar and will hold up permanently. As
a result of this case, the patient’s nerves are no longer stretched,
the headaches have dramatically improved and eye function is expected
to be completely restored.
“This is a great procedure for the right patient with the right
aneurysm,” says Dr. Moskowitz. “It’s safe, it’s
quick and it fixes an otherwise very bad problem very easily.”
About Boca Raton Regional Hospital – Advancing the boundaries of medicine.
Boca Raton Regional Hospital is an advanced, tertiary medical center
(BRRH.com) with 400 beds and more than 800 primary and specialty physicians on staff.
The Hospital is a recognized leader in oncology, cardiovascular disease
and surgery, minimally invasive surgery, orthopedics, women’s health,
emergency medicine and the neurosciences, all of which offer state-of-the-art
diagnostic and imaging capabilities. The Hospital is a designated Comprehensive
Stroke Center by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA).
Boca Raton Regional Hospital is the recipient of the 2014 Distinguished
Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence™ for the 10th year in a row
and was named one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals in 2011, 2012,
2013 and 2014, both by Healthgrades®. Boca Raton Regional Hospital
was also recognized for the third consecutive year in
U.S. News & World Report’s 2013–2014 Best Hospitals listing as a top-ranked hospital in the
South Florida metropolitan area.
Media Contact:
Thomas Chakurda, 561.955.3586
Vice President, Marketing
tchakurda@brrh.com