In recent years, the department has undergone significant improvements to its infrastructure and equipment. These upgrades are complemented by the high level of training and professionalism of the staff, who are recognized as among the most esteemed in Cuba for the treatment of high-risk cerebrovascular diseases.
Dr. Ariel Alvarez Rodriguez, head of the department, told local press that they currently perform two types of procedures—vascular surgeries and brain tumor removals—incorporating techniques that have enhanced the quality and safety of these operations.
The facility’s renovation also allowed for the resumption of vascular surgeries, which had not been performed there for two decades due to the previous lack of a specialized recovery area meeting the necessary standards for post-operative care.
The operating room is now equipped with a ceiling-mounted electronic microscope, modern surgical tables for cranial and spinal procedures, and high-speed neurosurgical drills.
Furthermore, the installation of computerized systems and television screens supports medical education and facilitates collaboration—via videoconferencing—with professors from the Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery, allowing for expert consultation on the management of highly complex cases.
The department also features a microsurgery training laboratory, where specialists and residents practice to minimize the margin of error. This is part of an ongoing, systematic training program designed to ensure the team maintains a high level of expertise in these procedures.
“We have very good results in brain tumor surgery,” stated Alvarez Rodriguez, adding that for some years now, they have also been performing endoscopic surgeries—guided by fluoroscopy using an intravenous contrast agent—and employing intraoperative ultrasound.
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