Center for Neurology, Neurosurgery and Gamma Knife Radiosurgery of Saint Anton

In our Center for Neurology, Neurosurgery and Gamma Knife Radiosurgery we have the areas of Clinical Neurology, Neurosurgery, Clinical Neurophysiology and Gamma Knife Radiosurgery.

Clinical Neurology.- We have Neurologists who are experts in various diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system from cerebral vascular disease, stroke, cerebral hemorrhages, headaches such as migraine and other types of headaches, and movement disorder diseases such as Parkinson’s disease.

We also have Doctors who have extensive experience in demyelinating diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis or Optic Neuromyelitis.

As for our Neurosurgeons, we have Doctors who are experts in treating diseases of the spinal cord, of both the cervical and lumbar spine, as well as intracranial diseases such as tumors and vascular malformations or aneurysms and very innovative technologies such as Gamma Knife surgery.

Gamma Knife is a type of surgery in which a scalpel is not used, it is not an invasive surgery, so no incision has to be made in the skull and in a few or just one session vascular malformations can also be treated. they can treat tumors with a high success rate, or pain such as trigeminal neuralgia.

Clinical Neurophysiology.- We have a department with the best technology for diagnosis, both electroencephalography and evoked potentials or studies that allow the evaluation of nerves and muscles in such a way that we have the best technology at Saint Anton, to serve you with the human capital that Saint Anton has and is characterized by. for its warmth.

Areas and Services of the Center for Neurology, Neurosurgery and Gamma Knife Radiosurgery at Saint Anton.

• Neurology and Neurophysiology Clinic.
• Neurosurgery.
• Offices.
• Hospitalization.
• Central Operating Room.
• Physiotherapy and rehabilitation clinic.
• Gamma Knife.
• Recovery Area.
• Imaging Studies.
• Laboratory.
• Telemedicine.

At our Gamma Knife Neurology, Neurosurgery and Radiosurgery Center, we can treat:

• Brain tumors
• Angiomas and vascular malformations
• Trigeminal neuralgia

Brain tumors.- Primary tumors of the central nervous system only represent 2% of all malignant tumors worldwide. However, these types of diseases have high morbidity and, depending on the case, may have a poor prognosis. This group includes a heterogeneous variety of diseases ranging from low-grade malignant tumors to lesions with a poor short-term prognosis.

Early and adequate treatment of these types of diseases is essential to improve the quality of life and survival of patients who suffer from them.

The Gamma Knife works by emitting beams of gamma rays that pass through the skin, skull, and brain, harmlessly on their way to reach the tumor, where their power is concentrated until it is destroyed. The radiation is focused exclusively on the tumor, with precision microns (thousandths of a millimeter), without affecting the surrounding tissues.

It is a very safe and precise method:

• Avoid open skull surgery and the risks associated with general anesthesia and open manipulation of the brain.
• It even reaches tumors beyond the reach of conventional surgery.
• Unlike other technologies for the surgical treatment of tumors by radiation, the precision in the destruction of tumors is microns, and the risk of affectation in the surrounding areas is minimal and usually transitory.
• Its price can be up to 70% lower than conventional brain surgery.
• This procedure is accepted by the main insurers in Houston texas.

Angiomas and vascular malformations.- They are birth diseases that can lead to strokes or seizures.

Some of the benefits of treating this condition with the Gamma Knife are:

• A safe and definitive method to end angiomas and vascular malformations.
• Avoid open skull surgery and the risks associated with general anesthesia.
• The risk of complications is less than 1% and they are generally minor and transitory issues.

Trigeminal neuralgia.- Trigeminal neuralgia and some other conditions manifest through severe headaches, which can become disabling.

Most conventional treatments include surgery and/or medication administration.

Gamma Knife radiosurgery is a safe and definitive method to end pain caused by the trigeminal nerve:

• Avoid open skull surgery and the risks associated with general anesthesia.
• The risk of changes in the sensitivity of the face is less than 1% and generally these are minor and transient effects.

Gamma Knife.- Radiosurgery without a scalpel with the Gamma Knife is a non-invasive, safe and effective method to treat brain lesions that are considered inoperable; its risk of side effects is minimal and the convalescence time is so short that it allows the patient to return to his activity in the following hours.

This treatment alternative allows you to forget about the risks of conventional surgical treatments, since it is non-invasive, is ambulatory and has excellent results due to the level of precision it has.

cutting-edge technology

Gamma radiosurgery , also known as stereotactic radiosurgery, is a treatment that is performed using a very high-precision instrument, called the Perfexion Gamma Knife, with which different affectations in the skull and upper spine area, or originating in the brain, usually without general anesthesia, for example:

• Benign and malignant tumors.
• Metastatic tumors in the brain (brain metastases).
• Arteriovenous malformations.
• Trigeminal neuralgia.
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
• Major depression.
• Cancer pain.
• Some types of epilepsy.
• Disabling tremor.Around 300,000 patients have been treated worldwide. Since the year 2000, Saint Anton was one of the first Gamma Knife centers in Latin America.

How is a Gamma Knife – Neurosurgery treatment?

Gamma Knife technology is a well-established method for treating selected areas within the brain. Perfexion Gamma Knife does not use scalpels in the common sense of the word. The Doctor does not make incisions in the head, but instead uses very precise radiation beams that are focused directly on the area within the brain that needs to be treated. Gamma Knife surgery offers reliable and effective treatment for complex conditions that are difficult to access. The treatment procedure is simple, painless and straightforward.

Treatment consists of four steps:

1. Fix the frame
2. Perform computed tomography, magnetic resonance and/or angiography images
3. The Specialist Physician plans the treatment
4. The patient attends his treatment session

Gamma Knife surgery is the only method that produces extremely focused radiation directed to the treated area within the brain. The radiation source used is called cobalt and there are 192 sources in the head that emit thousands of beams with little energy, but when found in the tumor target, they have a lethal effect, impacting only the area to be treated without damaging the healthy tissue that surrounds it. surrounds.

1.- Ensuring precision.

The key component of Gamma Knife surgery is the stereotactic frame.

The framework allows the Doctor to determine the points in your brain with exact precision. This lightweight frame, which is attached to your head with four screws, ensures that radiation beams will be accurately directed at targets. The frame also prevents some movement of the head during imaging and treatment. Local anesthesia is applied where the screws are attached.

2.- Location of the points to be treated.

After the frame is fixed, it is time for imaging using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), or angiography. This imaging is done to determine the exact size, shape, and position of the points to be treated within the brain.

During imaging, a coordinate box is attached to the head support frame to provide reference points on which the treatment plan will be made. After imaging, the coordinate box is removed.

3.- Treatment planning.

Once your images are taken, you can rest for a moment while your Doctor develops a precise treatment plan. Each treatment plan is unique, individually designed according to the characteristics of each patient. The Physician, along with other Specialists on his team, will make the plan on a specially designed computer and calculate how the treatment should be carried out.

4.- Treatment application and patient experience.

Once the plan is finished, the treatment can begin. You will lie on the treatment bed with the frame fixed to your head. You will be awake during the procedure and will be able to communicate with your Specialist or nurse through an audio and video connection. At the start of treatment the bed will be moved into the dome section of the unit. The treatment is silent and completely painless.

Our Team of Medical Specialists.

Our Medical Specialists at Saint Anton’s Center for Neurology, Neurosurgery and Gamma Knife Radiosurgery have extensive knowledge, experience and are nationally and internationally recognized in diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system, demyelinating diseases, tumors and intracranial diseases.

Saint Anton’s Specialist and Subspecialist Physicians work together to provide you with comprehensive care while taking the time to listen to you, answer your questions, and address your needs as a whole person.

At the Center for Neurology, Neurosurgery and Gamma Knife Radiosurgery we have the following health personnel:

• Medical Specialists and Subspecialists in Neurology.
• Medical Specialists in Neurosurgery.
• Medical Specialists in Pediatric Neurosurgery.
• Medical Specialists in Orthopedics and Traumatology.
• Medical Specialists in Radio-oncology.
• Graduates in Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation.
• Physical.
• Graduates in Nursing and General Nurses.At Saint Anton, the patient is the center of all our efforts, therefore they will receive the best care through a multidisciplinary team, valuing their time, the results of their studies are available quickly and appointments are scheduled in conjunction with our International Medicine staff.