New Era of Brain Surgery Underway at New Jersey Hospital
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ, is one of just a handful of hospitals in the nation to obtain the Polestar N-20 Intraoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (iMRI) system, the most advanced intraoperative MRI system currently available.
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ (PRWEB) August 5, 2004
Robert Wood Johnson University HospitalÂ’s advanced services in neurology and neurosurgery have expanded with the acquisition of breakthrough imaging technology for patients requiring brain surgery.
RWJUH is one of just a handful of hospitals in the nation to obtain the Polestar N-20 Intraoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (iMRI) system, the most advanced intraoperative MRI system currently available.
This technology sets a new standard of care for the treatment of brain tumors, pituitary lesions, congenital disorders and Epilepsy, promising better surgical outcomes and faster recoveries.
The uniqueness of the Polestar N-20 lies in its compactness, which enables neurosurgeons to bring it right into the operating room for real-time visualization of the brain during all stages of surgery.
In conventional brain surgery, neurosurgeons rely on MRI images taken before surgery. The limitation of this practice is that the brain’s anatomy – including the precise location of tumors – can shift during the progress of surgery, making images taken prior to the procedure out of date.
The iMRI technology solves that problem by providing surgeons with a constant stream of fresh images right in the operating room.
“This technology brings the MRI room into the operating room,” said Michael Nosko, MD, Ph. D., Chief of the Division of Neurosurgery at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. “By allowing surgeons to view images during the actual operation, this new MRI improves patient safety and surgical outcomes. It also shows the commitment of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital to improving the lives of patients by giving them access to the latest technology.”
In addition to its compactness, the iMRI also provides exceptional image quality. This image quality lets clinicians plan the best approach for reaching tumors and lesions. It also enables surgeons to more clearly see tumors and lesions, as well as the margins between healthy and unhealthy tissue. With this clearer visualization, and real-time imaging, surgeons can confirm that a tumor has been removed, safely and entirely, while patients are still in the operating room, rather than subjecting patients to additional operation for residual tumors that are detected in a post-operative MRI.
“With the Polestar N20, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital is setting a new standard of care in one of the most delicate areas of surgery,” said Dr. Nosko. “This is a powerful tool that enables neurosurgeons to be more accurate and more thorough. The end result is better outcomes for patients.”
Robert Wood Johnson University HospitalÂ’s highly regarded neurosurgery program provides comprehensive treatment for a full-range of neurological disorders in both adults and children.
The Clinical Neurosciences Center at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital is a partnership of RWJUH and UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School dedicated to research, medical and surgical treatment of neurological disorders, and offering extensive clinical programs in neurology, neurosurgery and interventional neuroradiology.