The administration of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has clarified that the institution currently does not have an experienced neuro-interventional radiologist nor the specialized supplies necessary to perform cerebral aneurysms surgical procedures.
In a statement yesterday, the GPHC said that this gap also obtains within the local private health sector.
The GPHC in a press release was responding to a Peeping Tom article “A tale of two health systems” published on August 26, 2024, by the Kaieteur News. According to the GPHC’s release, “… Surgery for cerebral aneurysms, commonly referred to as brain aneurysm surgery, is among the most technical and challenging neurosurgical procedures. Whether conducted through open surgery or endovascular techniques, these procedures demand a highly specialized surgical setting to ensure positive outcomes.”
The release noted that endovascular treatment for brain aneurysms requires the expertise of an experienced neuro-interventional radiologist, highly skilled neurosurgeons, and access to specialized supplies such as cerebral catheters, stents for cerebral angioplasty, titanium coils, and flow divertors. A well-equipped CATH lab is also essential for these minimally invasive interventions.
GPHC stated in its release that the institution does possess a CATH lab and qualified neurosurgeons, but lacks both an experienced neuro-interventional radiologist and the specialized supplies required for brain aneurysm surgeries at this time. The release said that the GPHC wishes to “assure the public that GPHC is actively working to address this gap. A neuro-interventional radiologist has recently returned from training and is expected to play a crucial role in advancing our neurosurgical capabilities in the future.”
Additionally, the release said that the GPHC is currently in communication with one of its international partners, Northwell Health, to explore the possibility of bringing in a Neuro-interventional Radiologist to Guyana so that this critical surgery can be performed at GPHC. The GPHC said that it remains committed to providing the highest standard of care to all patients and to continuously improving our capabilities to meet the needs of the public.
The GPHC release noted that within the local private health sector, care is often provided on a case-by-case basis through arrangements with overseas neuro-interventional radiologists who collaborate with local neurosurgical teams to carry out these intricate surgeries.
