IN Ross Township Summer 2014 | Page 8

Minimally Invasive Brain Surgery at UPMC Passavant An expert team under the leadership of Raymond Sekula Jr., MD, is treating patients from Pittsburgh and across the country with brain tumors and cranial nerve disorders. In recent years, there have been tremendous advancements in surgery for brain tumors and cranial nerve disorders, thanks to improved imaging and minimally invasive surgical techniques. treat conditions that once required larger, open surgeries, as well as care for patients whose age or other physical conditions make them otherwise poor candidates for an operation.” “Advanced imaging technology lets us see into the brain with far greater precision, both before and even during surgery,” says UPMC Passavant neurosurgeon Raymond Sekula Jr., MD, who is internationally known for his microvascular techniques that lead to improved outcomes, reduced complications, and easier recoveries for patients. “With newer, minimally invasive techniques, we can Dr. Sekula has performed more than 1,000 procedures for patients with trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm, and other cranial nerve disorders, in addition to a wide range of skull base surgeries for cancerous and benign tumors. His team at UPMC Passavant includes