Providence Brain and Spine Institute
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Learn clinical best practices and the latest advances in techniques, treatments, technology and research. Newsletter articles are reviewed by physician editorial boards and are written by Providence specialists in brain, spine, cancer, orthopedics, and heart and vascular medicine.
What sets Providence's Ann-Marie Yost, M.D., apart from 94 percent of neurosurgeons and why one case stays with her.
As part of an ongoing series, Providence profiles John Zurasky, M.D., stroke neurologist and neurointensivist with Providence Brain and Spine Institute.
Patients know them as doctors. Physicians know them as colleages.Through our ongoing series, we see these Providence providers in another light.
The neurosurgeon once "more powerful than Cheney."
Providence Portland Medical Center now offers an advanced neuro procedure room with 3-D mapping and CT scan overlay.
Developed at Providence Brain and Spine Institute, microscope-integrated radiology lets surgeons instantly view pre-op images through the surgical microscope. – By Vivek Deshmukh, M.D., neurosurgeon
Printable sheets with information on Providence Brain and Spine Institute specialty programs.
From publishing in medical journals to presenting at peer conferences, Providence Brain and Spine Institute experts have been active on a national and international scale.
Miles away… and by your side. See the map of all telestroke locations.
Is Alzheimer’s preventable? Does MS occur more in certain states? Why does Parkinson’s cause tremors? Get the highlights.
New technology integrates the state-of-the-art neurosurgical operating room with advanced neuroimaging.
Not all absentmindedness is dementia. Here's a handy chart to help you determine if your patient needs further testing.
From the experts
Read highlights from The Curious Workings of Your Brain, presented by Stanley Cohan, M.D., Ph.D., Michael Mega, M.D., Ph.D., and Richard Rosenbaum, M.D.
What is a migraine? Why do women have headaches more often than men? Is aspirin a good way to treat a headache?
Watch this KPTV report about a patient who was in the worst pain in his life. His minimally invasive spine surgery cured him "100 percent" and he was out on the town that evening.
Watch this video depicting the lifesaving power of telestroke.
Heath Munger's brain aneurysm was dangerous and complex. A skilled Providence neurosurgeon and a new device repaired the damage and gave this father a future.
Studies find that the relatively new care model for critically ill neurological patients decreases mortality and shortens hospital stays. – By John Zurasky, M.D., neurointensivist
Rachel Frazier is a jogger, golfer and power walker. She’s used to the odd muscle and joint aches that come with being physically active. But the pain that came the winter of 2012 was something entirely different. It started in her upper left arm and radiated downward to her thumb, and it kept getting worse.
Normal pressure hydrocephalus can be mistaken for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, but with appropriate treatment, its symptoms can be relieved or even reversed. – Ann-Marie Yost, M.D., neurosurgeon, Providence Brain and Spine Institute
For some patients with persistent pain, spinal cord stimulation provides relief when other options have failed. – Martin Baggenstos, M.D., neurosurgeon
Recent guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations on the best (and worst) pain medications. – By Joshua Johnson, M.D., neurologist
What is “migraine brain”? Could some sinus headaches actually be migraines? Is there any way to head off chronic migraines? Hubert Leonard, M.D., Ph.D., neurologist and headache specialist, answers questions about migraines.
“Is a TIA truly a stroke, or is it caused by other problems? What is the process for finding a good specialist?"
Aging, lifestyle and heredity all play a role in back problems, but if pain persists despite home treatments, specialists can help diagnose and treat the cause. – By Gloria M. Dagenais, RN
The American Academy of Neurology recommends 10 quality care measures for treating Parkinson’s disease, yet some aspects of care may be overlooked. Here are seven more that every provider who treats the disease should consider. – Richard Rosenbaum, M.D., neurologist
Clipping is favored in patients in otherwise good health, younger patients and those with a complete third-nerve palsy. Coiling is favored for older patients in poor health with multiple medical co-morbidities. This patient in this case study got both treatments. – By Vivek Deshmukh, M.D., neurosurgeon
Seizure is often the first clinical symptom of a brain neoplasm, especially in cases of low-grade neoplasms. – Paula Gerber, M.D., neurologist; medical director, Providence Neurodiagnostic Services
Bringing science education to life, Providence School Outreach Program hosted more than 125 Portland-area high school students to watch a live “Brain Watch” surgery as Dr. Vivek Deshmukh, neurosurgeon with Providence Brain and Spine Institute, clamped a brain aneurysm in a 4-hour operation.
Of all the reasons why people go to the doctor, back pain is second only to the common cold. Genetics, stressful jobs and lifestyles, poor posture and body mechanics, weak muscles, and extra pounds set most of us up for back problems sooner or later.
A young woman is diagnosed with a malignant cartilaginous tumor located deep in the skull base. In this case, a novel endoscopic endonasal approach proved superior to traditional techniques. – Pankaj Gore, M.D., neurosurgeon, and Edsel Kim, M.D., ear, nose and throat surgeon
Providence investigators Vivek Deshmukh, M.D., and John Zurasky, M.D., are studying treatment options for arteriovenous malformations.
Anti-amyloid agents are the subject of two clinical trials. If they delay Alzheimer’s by just five years, the disease’s prevalence will be halved. – By Michael Mega, M.D., Ph.D., neurologist
To maintain a sharp mind and a healthy brain, try leaning more toward Brussels sprouts than brownies. So advises Michael Mega, M.D., Ph.D., medical director of Providence Cognitive Assessment Clinic.
Facet joints may be the Rodney Dangerfield of the spine, but when it comes to causing back problems they deserve more respect. – By Jeffrey P. Johnson, M.D., neurosurgeon
Gaining access to the interface between the brain and sinuses used to require a risky and often disfiguring craniotomy. But the past 10 years have brought dramatic advancements in minimally invasive surgical techniques. – Edsel U. Kim, head and neck surgeon
Further testing often reveals that persistent pain has a treatable cause. – By J. Rafe Sales, M.D., orthopedic spine surgeon
New noninvasive assessments can help determine surgical candidates and locate the precise area of the brain causing the seizures. – By Julia Toub, M.D., epileptologist
Colloid cysts are rare and potentially deadly, but with special training, endoscopic resection can be done swiftly and easily. – By Pankaj A. Gore, M.D., neurosurgeon
The new 12-bed neurocritical care unit at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center provides the highest level of care for patients with critical neurological illnesses. – John Zurasky, M.D., medical director
The condition causes dread for emergency physicians, but a study is examining a new therapy that may improve outcomes. – By Lisa Yanase, M.D., stroke neurologist
Learn how Providence built a telestroke network to improve stroke care in communities in Oregon and Washington.
Kresa-Reahl, Kiren, M.D., neurologist, Providence Center for Parkinson’s Disease, explains the difference between action tremors and rest tremors and what to look for.
Kresa-Reahl, Kiren, M.D., neurologist, Providence Multiple Sclerosis Center, provides tips on diagnosing numbness and when to order testing to check for multiple sclerosis.
The September issue of Providence inScope, our clinical news magazine, examines a combination therapy that may hold promise for people with advanced melanoma.
The March 2013 issue of our clinical news magazine highlights how palliative care is helping patients long before the end of life. Also, new surgical options for herniated disks, settling into a medical home and why one ED doc gets high patient-satisfaction scores.
The November issue of Providence inScope, our clinical news magazine, examines a new stent to repair complex brain aneurysms; plus, treating HPV-related oral cancers.
Learn about the warning signs and treatment options for brain tumors.
Questions and answers about stroke with Ted Lowenkopf, M.D., and Lisa Yanase, M.D., Providence Brain and Spine Institute.
Arm pain from a compressed nerve often can be controlled conservatively, but if the pain is severe and lasting, new surgical options can offer permanent relief with faster recovery times. – J. Rafe Sales, M.D., orthopedic spine surgeon
EMG exams are valuable for diagnosing peripheral neurological disorders in many cases, but not all. – By Steven A. Day, M.D., neurologist
A growing body of research suggests that impaired glucose metabolism is a factor. – By Joshua Johnson, M.D., neurologist
Beyond coiling and clipping: a newly approved braided stent offers a solution for treating complicated brain aneurysms. – By Vivek Deshmukh, M.D., neurosurgeon
In the past four decades pharmacological progress has been spectacular, so now physicians and patients may choose among multiple options. Providence Center for Parkinson’s Disease follows these decision-making guides. – Richard Rosenbaum, M.D., neurologist
Unruptured intracranial aneurysms are common incidental findings on brain imaging. The challenge is to determine which aneurysms pose the greatest risks … and why. – By Vivek Deshmukh, M.D., neurosurgeon
Researchers surveyed hospitals to ask whether ongoing data completeness reports and monthly comparative quality reports were used to make changes in the acute care process.These self-reports were then confirme by using the registry data to construct objective run-chart measures over 12 months.Results showed several programmatic characteristics that distinguished programs that used quality reports to make improvements.
Answers from Kathleen Cutter, physical therapist with Providence Rehabilitation Services:
The significance of the Kleenex boxes placed on every tabletop isn’t apparent at first. But 15 minutes into this lunchtime gathering of doctors, nurses and a host of other health care workers, the reason becomes clear.
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