Neurological care at The Medical Center of Aurora

Brain and neurological services in Aurora, Colorado

Swedish Neuro Network at The Medical Center of Aurora offers testing and treatment for some of the most complex brain and nervous system conditions. Our neurologists and neurosurgeons use the latest imaging technology to determine an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan for each patient. This care is part of our neurosciences program, which includes award-winning stroke care, neurological rehabilitation and the Colorado Chiari Institute.

For more information about Swedish Neuro Network services at The Medical Center of Aurora, please call (303) 873-0630.

Neurological exams we offer

Our specialists use advanced tests to diagnose brain and nervous system conditions.

Some of these diagnostic procedures include:

• Brain endoscopy
• Cine flow study
• Computed tomography (CT) scan
• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Electroencephalogram (EEG)
• Electroneurodiagnostics (including long-term EEG video monitoring, evoked potentials and nerve conduction studies)
• Intraoperative 3D brain imaging
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Positron emission tomography (PET)
• Transcranial Doppler
• Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)
• Ultrasound of the carotid arteries

Neurological treatments we offer

Some of our neurological treatments include:

• Aphasia (disorder that affects a person’s ability to communicate) treatment
• Astrocytoma treatment (cancer originating in glial cells)
• Brain mapping
• Chiari malformation treatment
• Glioblastoma multiforme (tumor affecting the brain or spine) treatment
• Meningioma treatment
• Microvascular decompression (relieves abnormal compression of a cranial nerve)
• Stroke treatment
• Tumor removal
• Vagal nerve stimulator placement (prevents seizures by sending electrical energy to the brain)

Advanced stroke care

Our hospital is a certified Primary Stroke Center, and this designation demonstrates our commitment to excellence in stroke care.

Our stroke care program features:

• 24/7 neurosurgical services for hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke patients
• 24/7 on-call neurology coverage
• A skull-base neurosurgeon specializing in cerebrovascular services
• AirLife Denver for rapid transport to our medical center
• Neurological rehabilitation (neurorehabilitation)
• Stroke Alert Program
• Stroke support group

Stroke telemedicine

Our hospital is equipped with remote access stroke care technology. This means patients with stroke symptoms who arrive at our emergency room (ER) can be assessed almost instantaneously by neurologists specializing in stroke. As a result, emergency physicians can treat stroke patients in our ER more quickly, reducing or eliminating long-term stroke impacts on our patients.

Stroke Alert Program

We developed a stroke alert program to provide better care for stroke patients. As part of this program, specially trained stroke response teams work closely with our emergency medical services (EMS) providers. Together, they quickly and appropriately identify and treat strokes by immediately:

• Determining the time of onset of the symptoms
• Determining the possible contributing risk factors
• Performing a CT scan in the ER
• Providing in-person or telemedicine neurology evaluation

Stroke support group

Our Rocky Mountain Stroke Support Group is one of the largest stroke support groups in the Metro Denver area. The group fosters physical and emotional healing after a stroke. Facilitated by a registered nurse, this group provides support, socialization and education on topics such as:

• Activity
• Community resources
• Health
• Nutrition

The group meets every Tuesday from 10:00am to 11:00am at The Medical Center of Aurora.

For more information about the stroke support group, please call (303) 594-6897.

Headache disorder care

We provide assessments, diagnostics, patient education and medication management for various headache disorders, including:

• Chronic headaches
• Cluster headaches
• Exertional headaches
• Migraine headaches
• Pseudotumor cerebri (intracranial hypertension)
• Sinus headaches
• Tension headaches

Epilepsy and seizure management

We are dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of epilepsy and other seizure disorders. Our electroneurodiagnostics laboratory allows our doctors to accurately diagnose seizure disorders. We also have experience helping women manage their seizure disorders during pregnancy.

Movement disorder care

Our team of skilled providers, including neuropsychologists, addresses cognitive problems and provides patient and family education for:

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease)
• Guillain-Barré syndrome
• Multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson’s disease

Although there are no cures for these diseases, we help manage and fine-tune medications to reduce each patient's symptoms as much as possible. Additionally, for patients with Parkinson’s disease, we offer deep brain stimulation as an advanced treatment.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS)

DBS is a surgical procedure used to treat neurological symptoms caused by Parkinson’s disease. This procedure can help reduce tremors, rigidity, stiffness, walking problems and slowed movement. It is generally used for patients who have symptoms that cannot be controlled with medication.

DBS does not damage healthy brain tissue, and it can be reversed. It can also easily be adjusted as the patient's condition changes, and it decreases side effects caused by medications.

Spine care

We use a collaborative approach to spine care, which combines expertise from specialists in orthopedic care, neurological care, nursing and rehabilitation. This team works together to provide comprehensive care for spine diseases, disorders and injuries.

When surgery is necessary, our surgeons use minimally invasive techniques whenever possible. We also provide a preoperative spine surgery class to help patients learn how to prepare for their procedure and what to expect during recovery.

Traumatic brain injury care

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when a head injury disrupts the normal function of the brain. These injuries range from mild (brief change in mental status/consciousness) to severe (extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia after injury). Many TBIs are concussions, and all TBIs require specialized diagnostics and care.

Brain injury support group

Our brain injury support group meets the fourth Wednesday of each month from 6:30pm to 8:00pm in the visitor/staff dining room at Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital.

For more information, call (303) 363-5159 or email us.

Pediatric concussion management

For student athletes, creating a support system is essential to concussion management. Adults involved in the student athlete's life at home, at school and on the field, should work together to alter the environment in ways that maximize concussion recovery.

Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children, our sister hospital, provides a pediatric concussion center for children five to 20 years old. The program helps student athletes and their support networks understand how to modify the concussion recovery environment to prevent further injury and promote healing.

Neurorehabilitation

An injury to the brain or central nervous system can seriously affect a person’s ability to perform a variety of tasks. This is why, when a patient is admitted to our hospital for a brain or central nervous system disorder, we begin aggressive neurological rehabilitation—physical, occupational and/or speech therapy—as soon as the patient is capable.

As part of our comprehensive neurological care program, neurorehabilitation helps improve a person’s ability to function independently after being diagnosed with a neurological conditions, such as a brain injury or infection.

We have developed a care program with nearby Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital, a licensed acute rehabilitation center that specializes in neurological rehabilitation. This relationship allows patients to transition smoothly from the acute hospital setting into a rehab facility.

LVO mechanical thrombectomy

The faster our patients receive treatment for stroke, the more complete their recoveries can be. That’s why highly experienced HealthONE neuro-interventionalists, part of the Swedish Neuro Network, are performing mechanical thrombectomy procedures on-site in the neuro interventional suite at The Medical Center of Aurora.

A large vessel occlusion or LVO is a type of stroke in which a blood clot blocks one of the major arteries of the brain. This type of stroke can be particularly severe. Timely, advanced treatment is crucial to not only saving a patient's life, but also preventing serious brain damage caused by the blockage.

A mechanical thrombectomy is a minimally invasive procedure in which a highly specialized neuro-interventionalist removes the stroke-causing blood clot from a patient’s brain. A tiny tube (called a catheter) is threaded (typically through the groin) into the affected artery. Through the catheter, the team captures and removes the clot, allowing blood flow to be restored to the previously blocked area of the brain. When blood flow is restored, brain tissue is preserved.

Symptoms of a LVO are the same as all strokes and can be remembered with the acronym BE FAST:

• B – Balance: Are you experiencing a sudden loss of balance or coordination?
• E – Eyes: Are you having a sudden change in vision or trouble seeing?
• F – Face: Is one side of the face drooping?
• A – Arms: Can you raise both arms? Does one drift downward?
• S – Speech: Are words slurred? Can your repeat back a simple sentence?
• T – Time: Time is crucial. If you notice these symptoms, call 911.

In addition, emergency medical professionals are trained to recognize additional, more subtle symptoms that indicate an LVO. This training allows the EMS team to notify the stroke alert team at TMCA so they can prepare to rapidly provide this critical treatment.