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UTHSCSA
DEAN’S MESSAGE
Continued from page 27 lar neurosurgery, to repair damaged or abnormal blood vessels in
the brain.
chologist to compare the developmental impacts of the endoscopic
and traditional surgeries. Besides the previous research published A recent patient had chronic pain relieved through an endo-
on the procedure, Dr. Jimenez believes the new data will be the final scopic procedure to repair the vertebral artery that had shifted
point firmly establishing the endoscopic method’s superiority. near the brain stem and was putting pressure on the glossopha-
ryngeal nerve with every pulsation. After four years of medical
It is easy to see why the department holds their craniosynostosis treatment for pain – with no results – Dr. Jimenez and his team
procedure up as the epitome of their philosophy of providing a were able to identify the issue and bring total relief to the woman
maximum benefit with minimal disruption. They also carry this through a hole in the skull the size of a dime, with an instrument
philosophy over to all aspects of neurosurgery. When a minimally the size of a pencil lead.
invasive procedure is an option the team has the expertise to provide
this service for spinal, cranial and peripheral nerve operations. The Another minimally invasive procedure offered is an endoscopic
department offers comprehensive expertise in functional neuro- trans-sphenoidal approach to pituitary tumors, an area where Dr.
surgery/movement disorders, especially ones such as Parkinson’s dis- John Floyd has excelled. Dr. Floyd is a neurosurgical oncologist.
ease that have not responded to treatment; general and complex Because of the use of the endoscope, this procedure is a major ad-
spinal surgery, neuroendovascular (minimally invasive) procedures vancement from the traditional pituitary surgery, since there is less
to treat complex vascular lesions in the head, neck and spine; neu- painful swelling of the very sensitive facial tissues and the improved
rosurgical oncology for tumors of the brain, spinal cord, spine and operation reduces bleeding, recovery time and, of course, length of
skull base; neurosurgical trauma and critical care, peripheral nerve stay in the hospital. Dr. Floyd works closely with colleagues and
surgery/carpal tunnel release, with an emphasis on minimally inva- neuro-oncology team at the CTRC where the team of oncologists
sive techniques; skull base/cranial base surgery with specialization and radiation specialists address all manner of brain, spine and tu-
in removal of tumors at the base of the skull where many neuro- mors of the central nervous system.
logical and vascular structures are densely concentrated; and vascu-
28 San Antonio Medicine • February 2015
