Texoma Living Well Magazine November/December 2017 | Page 33

Neuro-Interventional Suite at
Texoma Medical Center
Offers Life-Saving Treatment
Courtesy Texoma Medical Center
I
f you have a blood clot, blockage or stroke,
the timing from diagnosis to treatment is
crucial. Stroke, for example, has a six-
hour treatment window, according to
Vivek Tank, MD. He is the first
interventional neurologist in the area trained
to use the new suite’s biplane angiography
for advanced treatment and diagnosis
of acute stroke and other complex brain
pathology. Dr. Tank explains that the sooner
a clot is removed, the better the chance of a
good outcome for the patient.
The system at Texoma Medical Center
(TMC) has two rotating X-ray cameras that
provide 3-D views of the blood vessels in
the head and neck, allowing physicians to
quickly identify and remove blockages. The
other advantage of biplane angiography is
that the procedures are minimally invasive, which can
mean quicker treatment, less bleeding and less risk of
infection.
TMC Is First to Offer Biplane Angiography
for Complex Vascular Brain Issues and Stroke
The neuro-interventional suite at TMC opened in the summer
of 2017. It is built around the room-sized angiography
imaging system and procedure table and is the first in the
region. Prior to the opening of the suite, patients presenting
with the symptoms of a possible stroke, were treated with
clot-busting medication only. If the patient had a large blood
vessel clot, they would need to be transferred over an hour
away. With the opening of the neuro-interventional suite,
these patients can now receive additional testing right within
TMC. And if a large clot is detected, the neuro-interventional
team can provide the treatment and care needed within a
short amount of time, right within the hospital.
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In addition to stroke, TMC’s neuro-interventional
suite offers diagnosis and treatment for:
• Brain aneurysms
• Carotid artery blockages
• Brain and neck tumors
• Intracranial hemorrhages
• Arteriovenous malformations
TMC has received
advanced certification
as a Primary Stroke
Center by The Joint
Commission. To learn
more about the Stroke
Services offered at the
hospital, visit www.
texomamedicalcenter.
net/stroke
Physicians are on the medical staff of Texoma Medical Center, but, with limited excep-
tions, are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Texoma
Medical Center. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by
physicians. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the non-discrimina-
tion notice, visit our website.
TEXOMA AREA Living Well Magazine | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017
31