Real-time scans during surgery allow for more precise procedure
Surgeons at Boca Raton Regional Hospital’s new Marcus Neuroscience
Institute successfully treated a patient with spondylolisthesis —
vertebral displacement in the lumbar spine — by performing a navigated
spine procedure using the sophisticated technology of intraoperative CT.
The Institute is one of only three centers nationwide equipped with the
advanced VISIUS® iCT technology.
By employing intraoperative CT, doctors are able to view high-quality,
real-time scans of the patient’s brain and spine throughout all
stages of the surgery, which allows for a more precise procedure. Whereas
traditionally surgeons would perform the operation and then a postoperative
CT scan to determine the success of the surgery, intraoperative CT’s
up-to-the-minute images mean doctors can view their progress and adjust
accordingly throughout, instead of after the procedure.
“Intraoperative CT removes variables and increases accuracy —
there’s no guessing,” said Evan Packer, MD, a neurosurgeon
at Boca Raton Regional Hospital, who performed the operation. “Compared
with traditional methods, intraoperative CT is far more insightful. It
provides us with more angles and cross-sections. It’s an electric
car versus the Model T.”
Another distinct advantage to intraoperative CT is its mobility. The machine
moves along a ceiling-mounted track within the operating room, meaning
the patient remains stationary during the entire operation and does not
need to be transferred to and from the CT scanner and the OR. In addition
to providing surgeons with the aforementioned better accuracy, this also
cuts down overall time of procedure, which is another important advantage
for patients.
Technology is at the forefront of the Marcus Neuroscience Institute serving
as a nexus for neurosurgery and neurology. Of the Institute’s four
operating rooms, two are equipped with intraoperative CT and one has intraoperative
MRI, which is found in only a handful of facilities across the country.
Much like CT, intraoperative MRI also enables surgeons to monitor the
progress of a procedure in real time without having to transport the patient.
The Marcus Neuroscience Institute opened at Boca Raton Regional Hospital
in October, supported by the generosity of several philanthropists throughout
the community and a lead gift of $25 million from Billi and Bernie Marcus
and the Marcus Foundation.
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