During a stroke, 1.9 million brain cells die every minute. Timely treatment can mean the difference between full recovery and lifelong disability. But currently in Monterey County, the most serious stroke cases must be transferred to the Bay Area, often leading to delayed treatment and poor outcomes.
Images show increased blood flow to the brain after thrombectomy.
With thrombectomy, blood flow is restored by mechanically removing the blood clot, much like cardiologists remove clots that can lead to heart attacks. Specially trained neurosurgeons insert a catheter (a flexible tube) into an artery through a small incision and guide it to the brain. A specially designed wire is then inserted through the catheter to retrieve the clot, restoring blood flow.
The procedure usually takes about 15 minutes, and most patients retain normal neurologic function and go home in 24 hours. Timing, though, is critical, making local capability a major advancement for Monterey County.
A thrombectomy must be performed as soon as possible for the best outcomes after a stroke occurs,” says Dr. Dragan Dimitrov, neurosurgeon and Medical Director of the new Montage Health/UCSF neurosurgery program. “Having that expertise and capability at Community Hospital eliminates the time required to transfer patients to another hospital, significantly improving stroke outcomes for our community. That literally can mean the difference between life and death, walking again versus being in a wheelchair, living independently versus in a nursing home. The benefits cannot be overstated.”
The program is anticipated to launch in late 2024 or early 2025, after the recruitment of additional neurosurgeons.
A higher level of care, available locally
The benefits of the new neurosurgery program go beyond improving stroke outcomes. With two new state-of-the-art hybrid operating rooms at Community Hospital, the partnership’s neurosurgeons can perform thrombectomies as well as other advanced procedures, including fixing tangled arteries and veins that can cause bleeding in the brain, removing tumors, and repairing brain aneurysms. The program also adds specially trained ICU staff and inpatient rehabilitation services for stroke patients at Community Hospital.
The partnership was made possible thanks to a significant philanthropic investment made to Montage Health Foundation by community members David and Joan O’Reilly.
“We want to help everyone in our community have access to this type of critical care when they need it,” the O’Reillys say. “We selected Montage Health and Montage Health Foundation for this gift because we knew they could create a top-quality program and partnership to meet this need.”
“Our community is fortunate to have such passionate and dedicated supporters like the O’Reillys,” says Kevin Causey, Vice President and Chief Development Officer of Montage Health. “Their support enables us to provide this high level of care and make great health outcomes possible for everyone in Monterey County.”
Continuing traditions of partnership and quality
Montage Health has a 90-year history of partnering with philanthropy-minded community members to elevate healthcare for Monterey County patients. This neurosurgical advancement is an example of how that tradition and commitment to quality remain evident, says Dr. Steven Packer, Montage Health President and CEO.
“Montage Health takes a very thoughtful and conservative approach to introducing new technologies and procedures in our community,” Packer says. “Our service expansions are always dictated by our community’s need. We always ask whether innovations will have a meaningful impact on the health of our community before investing in and implementing them.”
The long-term goal of the program, Dimitrov says, is to offer a robust local neuroscience landscape where neurosurgeons work with other clinicians to provide advanced care for complex conditions that are often overlooked.
“So many people feel stuck with chronic pain, headaches, neurodegenerative disorders, movement disorders, vascular problems, spine problems, and they don’t know what’s going on,” Dimitrov says. “Oftentimes patients wait months to see providers who can’t even help them. Our partnership with UCSF enables us to develop an environment where we’ll figure out people’s problems faster, get them to a doctor who can help, and get better treatment plans underway sooner. UCSF is a national and worldwide leader in treating neurological disorders and we are fortunate to bring the highest quality of care to Monterey County.”
