"ALL NEUROSURGEONS ALL THE TIME" sm

At MUSC there is virtually always a neurosurgeon in the hospital. This provides many benefits:

  • For emergencies occurring in hospitalized patients, the response time to have a neurosurgeon physically present is less than 5 minutes
  • For emergencies coming to the emergency department, a neurosurgeon is in the hospital at the time of arrival · A neurosurgeon familiar with the principles and procedures of the neurosurgical service at MUSC can always be contacted through the hospital operator (843.792.2123)

On rare occasions after complex brain, spinal cord or spinal surgery emergency situations can occur in which build up in spinal fluid pressure, a blood clot or a blocked artery may threaten a patient's life. In these situations minutes literally count. Having a neurosurgeon in the hospital, a few minutes away, able to begin the process of solving the problem, can literally mean the difference between life and death or between disability and normal function. Because it is a teaching hospital with a residency training program in neurological surgery, MUSC can offer this life saving advantage.