Unique Approaches to Pediatric Neurosurgery
The Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery at The Children's Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM) has a reputation for taking particularly difficult cases that other medical centers thought were inoperable. While offering a wide spectrum of medical and surgical treatments to children with often complex nervous system disorders, our exceptional multi-disciplinary team of specialists uses a combination of cutting edge technology and a compassionate but forthright bedside manner with children and their caregivers.
CinemaVision is available at The Children's Hospital at Montefiore
Commitment to advancing care technology
In addition to the standard, state-of-the-art technology that most pediatric surgeons use to help identify the location where they need to operate and make the procedure as minimally invasive but beneficial as possible, the division's surgeons have been instrumental in developing new technology that allows surgeons to map various locations of the nervous system during surgery, to make sure that the nervous system is not being compromised and to prevent the possibility of paralysis. Go into more detail here about how this works and the fact that the division is continuing to perfect it while using it to successfully complete surgeries at Montefiore. They are currently working on a computer program that will automatically warn surgeons when they are close to compromising nervous system integrity during surgery.
We take a unique, forthright approach when discussing our patients' conditions with them. Our staff or caring experts believes that since there is no hiding from children the fact that they are sick, it is better to be upfront with them. In our experience, children are more cooperative and less anxious about their treatment when they are given some basic information about their problem, such as showing them the lump that is visible in their X-Ray. In fact, children often enjoy feeling like they are helping to advance their treatment.
In order to make children feel more comfortable going into surgery, we bring them into the operating room in advance of their operation. A child life therapist is also available to play act the steps of their upcoming treatment using dolls and answer any questions they may have, going through the whole process in order to minimize anxiety.
Our caring doctors and support staff also emphasize the importance of supporting children's caregivers during this upsetting time. We realize that families are in shock after learning about a tumor. Families are contacted immediately, regardless of the time of day, and asked if they want to come in to Montefiore to talk. They are careful to go through everything and make a firm game plan for how to approach treatment and what families should expect.
The division's expert surgeons have taken the time to gather extensive information about the conditions they commonly see and how they are treated, so care givers can educate themselves thoroughly.
Also briefly mention leadership in the field, including affiliations with international centers including the Burdenko Neurological Institute in Moscow, Russia and the University of Palermo in Palermo, Italy, and the Neurological Institute of Kiev, Ukraine, and continued research and publication of four surgical textbooks.
Main Number
718-920-4197
