Advances in Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery at St. Catherine's
Neurosurgery is very unique because of the complexities of the brain. St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center's skilled Neurosurgeon, Dr. Magdy Shady is as unique as the surgery he performs. Dr. Shady, one of seven accomplished neurosurgeons at St. Catherine's, is board certified in neurosurgery, is a leader in the practice of neurosurgery and has been a member of the Medical Staff at St. Catherine's since 1997. His training, experience and surgical skills have moved him to the forefront of his field. He could perform these delicate procedures at any hospital, but with the technological advances, modern facilities, highly skilled colleagues and support staff available to him, he chooses to do them at St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center.
Dr. Shady offers his patients the most advanced, minimally invasive surgical procedures available today. The benefits of having minimally invasive microscopic surgery are many. This surgery involves less risk to the patient, and the tiny incision means less scarring and less pain. The magnitude of surgical trauma to the body is much less and this allows for reduced recovery time and the ability to enjoy daily life more rapidly. Dr. Shady is part of a complex neurosurgical team which draws on the expertise and careful management of the fast, efficient and highly skilled St. Catherine's surgical team, which includes the emergency department, anesthesiologists, nurses, radiologists and physical therapists, among others.
" Our mission is to deliver the highest-quality, technologically advanced, comprehensive neurosurgical care possible. We have the same capabilities here at St. Catherine's as any New York City hospital, but St. Catherine's patients have the advantage of staying close to home, family and follow up care," said Dr. Shady.
Dr. Shady performs over 400 major and minor surgical procedures a year at St. Catherine's. His scope of surgical interventions includes the craniotomy, which is the surgical removal of a brain tumor, excision of herniated discs and spine instrumentation.
Here are several examples of minimally invasive procedures and their excellent results:
Elizabeth Farruggia, 84, mother of 5, grandmother of 12 and great grandmother of 18 from Commack, was sitting in the beauty parlor getting her hair done the morning of her daughter Anne Marie's wedding on Oct. 29, 2005. Her daughter Betty Schiermbock, noticed Ms. Farruggia spilling her coffee, then dropping it. She was very confused and disoriented. Betty thought she was having mini-strokes. After an examination by Dr. Shady, and an MRI, a brain tumor was discovered. Ms. Farruggia was very ill and needed surgery. Ms. Farruggia's tumor was located in the left side of her brain. To remove her tumor, Dr. Shady made a small one-inch, minimally invasive incision using the Brain Lab Stereotactic Navigation System. Based on a pre-op MRI study, the computerized navigation system allows the surgeon to see exactly where the tumor is. This procedure, one of the latest technologically advanced, allowed Ms. Farruggia to experience less pain, less scaring, and a speedier recovery. Elizabeth Farruggia, 84 years old, left St. Catherine's just four days after her craniotomy.
One morning in October of 2005, Barbara Guilfoyle, a local RN from Mount Sinai, woke up in excruciating pain. Her left arm was numb, and the pain radiated down to her fingers. She went to Dr. Shady for an examination, and he ordered an MRI. The results were conclusive. Ms. Guilfoyle had herniated cervical discs. Herniated cervical discs are less common than herniated lumbar discs. They will extrude out to the side of the spinal canal, which puts pressure on the nerves and causes pain, weakness and numbness. After electing for and receiving minimally invasive herniated disc surgery by Dr. Shady, Ms. Guilfoyle was able to resume everyday activities, return to work, and enjoy her life again. Ms. Guilfoyle said, " I've never felt better. It's amazing, after just a 24-hour stay at St. Catherine's, I was able to get home to my family and get my life back. My fast recovery time and healing was very important to me".
Dr. Min Kuan Lin was rushed to St. Catherine's Emergency Room after experiencing a stroke and major cerebral hemorrhage. Dr. Shady and his surgical team performed the emergency surgery. The intervention was successful and so was the follow up treatment and care Dr. Lin obtained. " I received the best care possible. The kindness, support and encouragement given to my family and myself were critical to my recovery. They gave me back my life," said Dr. Lin.
Dr. Shady has received international recognition for his humanitarian efforts by providing desperate medical care to neurosurgery patients in Ghana, West Africa. He and other health care colleagues volunteer their time and expertise to provide life-saving medical assistance to people who would otherwise be denied even the most basic health care. This rewarding, remarkable yearly medical mission trip is an important part of his life as a physician. When asked why he travels around the world to perform neurosurgery, and why he is so passionate about his work at St. Catherine's Dr. Shady said, " Simple. To make the world and our community a better place. And that makes it better for all of us."
Dr. Shady has received the American Medical Associations Physician Recognition Award, and has been invited to lecture and present nationally and internationally. Among his most important presentations are the Thesis for Diagnosis and Treatment of Lumbar Disk, 1981; Value of Computerized Axial Tomography in Head Trauma, Ains Shams University, Cairo, Egypt, Dec. 1994 and Boro Neutron Capture Therapy of Gliblastoma Multiforme at Brookhaven National Laboratory, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Seattle, Washington, Oct. 1998. The American Cancer Society, the Journal of Neuro Oncology and the American Nuclear Society have published him. His present Academic Appointments include; Member of the Council for the State University College at Old Westbury; Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at SUNY Stony Brook, NY; Clinical Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology, SUNY Stony Brook, NY; and Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery; Dept. of Neurosurgery, NYU, New York.
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