TEHRAN -- An Iranian hospital has employed the cutting-edge angiography technology for brain vascular treatment, which obviates the need to open the skull, thus ensuring a safer and less invasive method to cure patients with brain vascular blockage.
Baqiyatallah Hospital in the capital Tehran used the latest angiography technology to treat vascular blockages in brain without the need for anesthesia or open surgery, Fars news agency reported.
As people age, they often face vascular issues, which traditionally require risky, invasive surgeries, but due to factors like advanced age or blood abnormalities, many patients are unable to undergo such surgeries.
Baqiyatallah Hospital’s upgraded angiography equipment helps clear vascular blockages safely and efficiently without opening the skull, offering a less invasive solution.
According to Mahrou Taherpour, head of the Cardiac Angiography and Post-Cath unit at Baqiyatallah Hospital, the hospital’s third angiography device, known as the “Artis Q,” - a floor-mounted angiography system with flexible system positioning and small footprint - allows for improved precision with its large 56-inch monitors, compared to older models with 14-inch screens.
The “Artis Q” is primarily used for non-cardiac procedures, such as treating leg artery blockages, abdominal aortic aneurysms, and acute strokes, without the need for open surgery, including the ability to clear brain vessel blockages without opening the skull, she added.
“In the past, this procedure was mainly used for blocked heart vessels, while treating other blocked vessels—such as those in the brain—required open surgery. But now, we can unblock brain vessels without having to open the patient’s skull,” Taherpour noted.
The device, she added, is equipped with picture archiving and communication system (PACS), enabling surgeons to compare previous and current medical images during procedures, leading to better treatment decisions.
In addition to its vascular uses, the device is also employed in treating abdominal, liver, and uterine tumors through embolization, a minimally invasive procedure through which the blood supply to the tumor is cut off without the need for invasive procedure by surgery.
Taherpour further said that patients undergoing procedures with this technology can expect significantly shorter recovery times. For instance, those who receive aortic valve replacement can be discharged in just two days instead of the usual 10, while the hospital’s upgraded equipment also meets the growing demand for non-cardiac angiography with specialized care and reduced risk.