Neurosurgery in Israel – Department of Neurosurgery at Sheba

300 patients are treated annually by surgery and radiosurgery for a variety of benign brain tumors including meningiomas, acoustic neurinomas, and colloid cysts of the 3rd ventricle. Patients have access to state-of-the-art surgical technologies, including microsurgery, minimally invasive neuroendoscopy, image-guidance and intra-operative MRI.

This is the largest center in Israel for pituitary tumor surgery with 120 operations performed annually. Due to the high expertise of the surgeons in this unit, it is becoming a pituitary tumor unit with much experience in the application of intra-operative MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). Surgeons frequently publish in peer-reviewed medical journals on their advances in surgical techniques.

In this unit, the expert surgical team evaluates outpatient patients with vascular diseases of the brain and spinal cord and treats those with emergency cases. 120 patients are treated annually with open and endovascular surgical approaches for a variety of cerebrovascular lesions, including cerebral aneurysms and arterio-venous malformations (AVM). Top-tier surgeons employ modern diagnostic and surgical methods as well as advanced intensive post-operative treatments.

This unit works in conjunction with the Department of Oncology to treat 300 patients annually with primary and metastatic malignant brain tumors. Patients are under the care of expert surgeons who are experienced in the latest modes of therapy including: Frame and frameless stereotactic biopsies and image guided surgical removal of tumors. The latter includes state-of-the-art application of intra-operative MRI, and other brain navigation systems. The unit’s team includes a nurse and social worker to provide holistic care and support in addition to the expert surgeons.

The unit provides pediatric neurosurgical treatment for all young patients from the preterm infant through adolescence. A wide variety of neurological conditions are treated employing an integrated, multidisciplinary approach tailored to the personal needs of the child and his/her family. The Pediatric Neurosurgery team works closely with staff in other departments of Sheba including: Pediatrics, Pediatric Neuro-Oncology, Pediatric Neurology, Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, Pediatric Endocrinology, Plastic Surgery/Craniofacial Surgery, Pediatric Ophthalmology, Orthopedic Surgery, Nursing, Social Work, and Genetics.

The service provides comprehensive personalized treatment programs for various disorders of the whole spinal column and spinal cord in both adults and children. These include degenerative disorders of the spinal column, tumors of the spine and spinal cord, and trauma to the spinal column.

The unit employs advanced high-tech therapeutic radiosurgery technology that takes advantage of computer power and mechanical precision to deliver high doses of ionizing radiation to discrete intracranial targets. Since no skin cut or bone opening is needed, intracranial tumors can be precisely destroyed without patients needing to undergo anesthesia or be admitted to the hospital.

The Intensive Care Unit operates as an integral part of Sheba’s Department of Neurosurgery receiving patients from any of the other surgical units when required. Patients in the ICU are constantly supervised by highly trained personnel and are under continual apparatus monitoring.

Experienced professionals in the field of neurosurgery provide competent advice to patients referred to the clinic from other areas of medicine. They also monitor patients after their surgery and carry out follow-up checks.

The clinic’s staff provides care to patients after their surgery including monitoring, removing sutures, and supporting and advising patients so that they can rehabilitate as fast as possible and return to their everyday life.

Patients who are facing a planned operation visit the clinic to ensure that they are prepared as much as possible for their surgery. This usually involves additional tests and a comprehensive briefing on the planned operation. Patients are welcomed by a multidisciplinary team to ensure the highest standard of care and treatment including meeting with the anesthesiologist, the attending physician and a nurse.

Sheba Medical Center is committed to providing a holistic approach to care with a multidisciplinary staff, including specialized neurosurgeons, orthopedists, radiologists, oncologists, pathologists, coordinating nurses and social workers. In this way, Sheba maintains a professional approach and responsiveness to each patient’s needs to ensure the highest quality of treatment in a truly caring environment for optimal success.