Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas First in the United States to Perform Brain Surgery in State-of-the-Art Operating Room.

DALLAS -- Neurosurgeons Perform First U.S. Case in a BrainSUITE(R) iMRI Neurosurgical Suite, Using Real Time Imaging and Data Processing to Treat Complicated Brain Tumors

Neurosurgeons on the medical staff of Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas (PHD) today performed the first U.S. surgical case using BrainSUITE(R) technology in the hospital's new intra-operative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) neurosurgical suite. The state-of-the-art operating room, dedicated to precision and real-time imaging during brain surgery, is among the first of its kind in the world.

This breakthrough use of advanced computerized equipment provides neurosurgeons access to all-important clinical data about a patient's brain condition during surgery. The increased level of information -- converging in real time -- can assist in improving the precision and accuracy of procedures, which may reduce the need for repeat surgeries.

J. Michael Desaloms, M.D., a neurosurgeon on the hospital's medical staff, today operated on a 31-year-old mother of three in the hospital's new iMRI neurosurgical suite. The patient was treated for a cavernous angioma, a rare disorder of the capillaries and smallest veins, which was located in one part of her brain. The disorder may cause a lesion to form from a group of tightly packed blood vessels that can displace normal brain tissue. These lesions can become blood filled and form a mass resembling a tumor. Symptoms can include headaches and seizures.*

"The patient had been experiencing recurring brain hemorrhaging and seizures. The mass was located near the motor cortex, the area of the brain that controls movement. The use of this new technology helped to successfully remove the mass without impairing the patient's motor function," said Desaloms. "The patient did very well and is resting comfortably."

PHD's new specialized surgical suite features BrainSUITE(R) technology and Siemens' MAGNETOM(TM) 1.5 Tesla high-field MRI system. The operating suite's technology provides neurosurgeons with real time, decision-making information to treat complicated brain tumor and other neurosurgical conditions.

"PHD chose to install BrainSUITE(R) because it is committed to offering innovative neurosurgical treatment options to its patients," said Richard L. Weiner, M.D., chairman of neurosurgery at the hospital.

Within the surgery suite, neurosurgeons on the medical staff combine image-guided surgery, iMRI and all relevant data management and visualization technology. The high-field iMRI affords neurosurgeons immediate access to new images of the brain before, during and at the conclusion of the surgical procedure.

The BrainSUITE(R) navigation system links the real time, intra-operative images with the spatial position of the surgical instruments helping to provide the neurosurgeon with a higher level of accuracy regarding tumor location and amount of diseased tissue removed. In one study using iMRI, 36 percent of surgical procedures initially considered complete were continued in order to remove residual tumor tissue.**

"Throughout its 40-year history, PHD has demonstrated forward thinking in its commitment to technologically advanced clinical care in neurosurgical services," said Mark H. Merrill, hospital president. "BrainSUITE(R) allows us to continue our commitment to patients well into the future."

About Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas

Established in 1966, PHD is the flagship hospital of Presbyterian Healthcare System, a member of the faith-based, nonprofit Texas Health Resources system. PHD is a recognized clinical program leader, providing technologically advanced care to patients. The 866-bed facility has approximately 4,000 employees and an active medical staff of more than 1,000 physicians. For more information about PHD, visit www.phscare.org.

*According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke

**Nimsky C, Fujita, A, et. al.: Volumetric assessment of glioma removal by intra-operative high-field magnetic resonance imaging. Neurosurgery 55:1-12, 2004