Crozer Health Enters New Era in Neurosciences

Neurosurgery OR Suite with Biplane Imaging

Crozer Health celebrated the installation of a state-of-the-art neurosurgery hybrid operating suite centered around a biplane imaging system. This biplane gives our group of specially trained, comprehensive vascular neurosurgeons the ability to treat patients on an immediate 24/7 basis for all types of strokes, aneurysms and other serious neurosurgical conditions on a minimally-invasive basis. This is the newest in a series of advancements in neurosciences at Crozer Health that provide the highest level of stroke and neurosurgery care in Delaware County—without needing to go downtown.

Crozer Health recently partnered with Global Neurosciences Institute (GNI) to create a regionally preeminent center of distinction in neurologic diagnosis and treatment, called Global Neurosciences Institute at Crozer. This center includes comprehensively trained vascular neurosurgeons, neurologists specialized in various conditions, the biplane in a hybrid OR, a dedicated Neurologic ICU and the region’s only neurologic emergency department.

The biplane technology was certified for use by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and literally the next day, it was put to life-saving use. A patient having critical stroke symptoms was taken to a Crozer Health emergency department and then emergently treated on our new biplane. “We were able to treat her right away, and every minute counts,” said Erol Veznedaroglu, M.D., FACS, FAANS, FAHA, director of GNI, referring to the risks involved with taking the time to transport a stroke patient to another hospital in downtown Philadelphia. “It saved her life.”

With a multidisciplinary collaborative approach, GNI at Crozer is focused on delivering clinically advanced brain and spine care services. This patient-focused institute uses the latest research and state-of-the-art technologies to diagnose and treat patients with a full range of neurological conditions including stroke, aneurysm, brain tumor, concussion, spine treatments, epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders, Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive disorders, pain management, and behavioral health conditions.

The installation of Crozer Health’s neurosurgery OR suite is the newest example of how GNI at Crozer is making its commitment tangible. The system enables surgeons to treat high-risk patients requiring immediate surgical interventions by enabling them to see blood vessels and perform procedures on the brain in a minimally invasive, endovascular manner. Conditions treated include strokes, aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, and brain tumors.

A biplane creates a three-dimensional image of the brain within seconds following injection of contrast fluid. The full three-dimensional image dramatically improves the likelihood of an accurate diagnosis and also saves time. With this advanced visualization, a surgeon can navigate a catheter, which enters the body through a small incision in the upper thigh, through the blood vessel system, to provide advanced treatments directly in the brain. This minimally invasive procedure leads to much shorter patient recovery times.

“My family needed Dr. Veznedaroglu and his team years ago, and so I know how lucky Crozer Health is to have them here,” said Ann Swan, a member of the health system’s local governing board since 2016. “Last week’s stroke patient, who became our first biplane success story, represents a new level of capability in Delaware County. My family is forever grateful, and now many Delaware County families will be as well.”

In addition to its commitment to advanced neurosurgical capabilities, Crozer Health also received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Gold quality achievement award. The award recognizes the system’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence. Crozer Health earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period.