Health Beat - Summer 2017 - 13

Tumor Care
trained in SRS. She collaborates with
Whitlow any time a procedure involves
treatment in the brain and spine.
"At any given time, we have lots of
mutual patients that we're caring for,"
says Whitlow. "I speak with Dr. PerezTamayo on multiple patients every week
about follow-up, how their scans look
and any concerns there. There's a great
Scott Boswell, M.D.
working relationship here."
The decision to proceed with brain
surgery is made by neurosurgeons Boswell and Whitlow. A
patient's imaging scans help them determine what form of
surgery is best and how to proceed with treatment.
"It takes a team approach to determine the best plan for
treatment," says Perez-Tamayo. "My work reflects the work
of the neurosurgeons, and their work reflects my work. These
neurosurgeons have the talent to carry out any procedure."

Open Surgery
Salina Regional Health Center recently upgraded its imageguided technology used for open brain and spine surgery to
the Brainlab Curve system.

"The Curve is an updated, newer version of our former
system," says Whitlow. "That's a cranial navigation system
that I describe as a GPS for surgery."
This technology constructs a three-dimensional image
of a patient's head, brain and tumor using the patient's
MRI and CT scans. Cameras, infrared light and reflecting
antennas are used to match the patient's head on the
operating table with the 3-D computer image. This creates
a virtual map for neurosurgeons to view through the
duration of surgery.
The equipment's versatile usability allows for easy
maneuvering in the operating room. The system's highresolution screens provide greater accuracy by displaying
clear images. This upgrade offers priceless benefits for both
patients and neurosurgeons.
"It's not that it just makes it faster or gives it more
memory," says Boswell. "We have more capabilities. It makes
surgery more accurate, and it makes it more convenient for
the patient because they can get fewer MRIs."
The system's biggest benefit? Accuracy. This makes surgery
less invasive, potentially reducing the risk of major complications
and causing minimal damage to healthy brain tissue. 1

Neurosurgeon Justin Whitlow, M.D., and radiation oncologist
Claudia Perez-Tamayo, M.D., view brain scans to discuss a treatment plan.

srhc.com

http://www.srhc.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Health Beat - Summer 2017