Gamma Knife for PhysiciansGamma Knife surgery is a treatment methodology for patients with life-threatening brain diseases. It avoids surgically opening the skull, providing much more favorable results for the patient’s quality of life, treatment cost, clinical outcomes and reduction of complications. The technique is simple, quick and painless, with treatment carried out in a single sessions. There is a short recovery time after the head frame is removed. Patients typically return to pre-operative daily activity within a day or two, instead of the weeks or moths of convalescence usually required after a traditional invasive operation.
Key indications for Gamma Knife® surgery include AVMs, vestibular schwannomas, meningiomas, pituitary tumors, trigeminal neuralgia and brain metastases. For these key indications, complication rates are lower, clinical outcomes are better than open surgery, cost of care is lower and patient experience is superior to current treatment alternatives.
In the process of evaluation Gamma Knife® surgery, one of the most important issues to understand is the clinical applicability and the existing treatment options for patient groups. Gamma Knife® surgery is a neurosurgical procedure used by neurosurgeons as a complement to microsurgery, and often the two treatment techniques are used in conjunction for improved results.
There is an extensive body of evidence on the efficacy of Gamma Knife® surgery for key indications. Access to this information is available from Saint Joseph’s Hospital or directly from Elekta, manufacturer of Leksell Gamma Knife® (www.elekta.com). Another valuable source of information is the International RadioSurgery Association (IRSA), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing educational information on stereotactic radiosurgery (www.irsa.org).
Gamma Knife® surgery at Saint Joseph’s
Saint Joseph’s Hospital uses a highly-trained team of neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, and medical physicists to deliver Gamma Knife treatment. As a clinician, you may contact a physician member of this team directly to arrange consultation.
Alternatively, by contacting the Gamma Knife Center, the coordinator can help facilitate communication between the primary or specialty clinician and the Gamma Knife physician team. The physicians will collaborate to design and carry out a treatment plan that will provide optimum curative or palliative care for the patient’s specific needs.
Saint Joseph’s reputation for outstanding patient care combined with unparalleled physician support create an environment that is conducive for both physician and patient confidence and comfort.
Leksell Gamma Knife® has become the most trusted radiosurgery product in the world, with more than 30,000 patients treated annually, over 2,000 peer-reviewed papers and a 15-year follow-up study on patients. With proven clinical applications, established reimbursement and a full range of support, Leksell Gamma Knife® remains at the forefront of choices for safe, gentle, effective treatment.
For more information, please contact:
Rebecca O. Heitkam, RN, BSN, CCRN, coordinator
Gamma Knife Center
Saint Joseph's Hospital
404-851-5513
or toll free at 1-866-SJGAMMA
or email
rheitkam@sjha.org |
