DOHA: Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Neuroangiography Suite has offered improved treatment outcomes for hundreds of patients with serious vascular disorders in the brain and spinal cord.

Officially opened by Minister of Public Health, H E Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari in April 2016,  the new facility has boosted HMC’s ability to deliver minimally invasive treatment of vascular problems in the brain and spine, known as Interventional Neuroradiology (INR).

These procedures are provided by the Neuroradiology Department and have resulted in a marked improvement in the quality of care and outcomes for both pediatric and adult patients since 2015.

“More than 250 patients have received treatment, including many life-saving procedures since operations first began in the Neuroangiography Suite. These include minimally invasive endovascular treatments for brain and spine vascular disorders and procedures to remove blood clots from brain arteries,” said Dr. Ayman Zakaria, Senior Consultant, Interventional Neuroradiology at Hamad General Hospital.

“The treatment options for these patients have improved enormously due to the technology available in the new suite. Patients with tumors, vascular malformations, cerebral aneurysms, as well as children with developmental vascular disorders in the brain, have been among those to benefit from the cutting-edge technology in this new facility,” explained Dr. Zakaria.

“For patients with acute stroke, we are now able to perform a procedure known as mechanical thrombectomy, where we introduce a thin catheter through the artery of the groin up to the brain and physically remove the clot that blocks the arteries to the brain. Before the introduction of this technique, the only treatment option available for acute stroke patients was to inject a clot-busting drug. This option is far less effective than the mechanical thrombectomy procedure,” explained Dr. Zakaria.

One of the key benefits of the new suite is the advanced capability of bi-plane angiography and CT like imaging. Dr. Ahmed Own, Chairman of Neuroradiology at HMC, explained that this imaging technique allows neuro-interventional teams to view the inside of blood vessels and organs in greater detail.

“This advanced imaging gives them the very best view of the arteries and veins and allows them to see their precise location and determine the strategy for treatment while they perform the procedure,” explained Dr. Own.

Five children below two years of age have been treated with life-saving procedures in the Neuroangiography Suite. These infants suffered from a condition known as Vein of Galen Malformation, a rare condition that occurs during pregnancy and results in abnormal connections between blood vessels within the brain.