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Neuroscience Articles from Ochsner Health Experts
Ochsner offers advanced technologies, innovative treatments and expertise to help your patients with a wide range of neurological conditions. The future new Debra H. and Robert J. Patrick Neuroscience Center will soon be home to the nationally ranked Ochsner Neuroscience Institute, bringing 25 nationally renowned programs under one roof. This will be the only major neuroscience institute between Houston and Atlanta, serving as a catalyst for innovation in the field of neurosciences for the patients of the Gulf South.
Explain More, Cut Less: Dr. Seth Hayes Approach to Neurosurgical Care on Louisiana's Northshore
Explain More, Cut Less: Dr. Seth Hayes Approach to Neurosurgical Care on Louisiana's Northshore
Learn MoreExplain More, Cut Less: Dr. Seth Hayes Approach to Neurosurgical Care on Louisiana's Northshore
My (Seth Hayes, MD) deep affinity for the field began nearly 20 years ago when, as a medical student, I first saw the positive impact spine and brain surgery can have on patients’ lives. Neurosurgery is so vast and comprehensive. As neurosurgeons we learn everything from interventional radiology and neuroradiology to radiation oncology—not to mention the technical skills we master.
At Ochsner Health Center, my team and I routinely utilize today’s most sophisticated robotic systems and minimally invasive surgical techniques to achieve the best possible outcomes for our patients with fewer complications and less recovery time.
It is truly a wondrous time to practice Neurosurgery.
My Patients are My Practice
There is, however, one aspect of neurosurgical care that does not sit right with me—and never will.
It is when patients come to see me for the first time—as referrals or seeking a second opinion—and lack a fundamental understanding of their condition and the reasons why they previously underwent procedures.
When I educate these patients, many respond with words of gratitude that both break my heart and inspire me: “Thank you. No one ever explained this tome before.”
Patient education is a central pillar of my practice. I spend a great deal of quality time explaining conditions to patients, walking them through treatment options, and listening attentively to their questions and concerns. Patients deserve honesty and understanding.
This is personal for me. I practice on Louisiana’s Northshore—treating patients from St. Tammany Parish to Tangipahoa Parish and beyond—a community where I have deep roots. My grandparents hail from the Northshore, my family and I live here, and my children attend school here. Many of the local folks I know—neighbors, friends, and colleagues—are also my patients.
That lends a deeper meaning to everything I do.
We Treat Most Conditions Nonsurgically
My team and I most commonly treat degenerative spine pathologies such as spinal stenosis, herniated disks, neck pain, and back pain.
Brain conditions we frequently treat include intracranial hemorrhages, subdural hematomas, and tumors.
Many patients and referring physicians are surprised to learn that we manage conditions nonsurgically 70% - 80% of the time in our outpatient clinic.
Our goal is always to accurately assess the severity of a patient’s condition and select the least invasive solution for them. That may mean simply reassuring and observing the patient, referring them for physical therapy (PT) or injections, and sometimes recommending surgical interventions.
Even when surgery is appropriate, we ask ourselves: “Can we do less?”
Minimally Invasive Surgery is like Building Ships in Bottles
Advancements in minimally invasive spine techniques and technologies continue to change the game in neurosurgery.
Today, using a combination of tubular retractors as small as 16-22 mm, microscopes, high-resolution cameras, and advanced navigation systems, my team and I can access pathology in ways impossible with the naked eye. When explaining minimally invasive surgery to patients, I liken it to building a ship in a bottle. We construct support structures in extremely tight spaces with incredible precision.
But I also make sure patients understand there is nothing “gimmicky” about these sophisticated surgical techniques. The benefits are real and include lower infection rates, much less blood loss, fewer complications, and far less collateral damage to healthy tissue.
Spinal techniques we perform include tubular microdiscectomy or laminectomy. We pursue the same goal with these minimally invasive procedures as with traditional open lumbar decompression—but through a tiny one-inch incision and small port.
Other minimally invasive procedures we offer include transforaminal lumbar interbody fusions (TLIFs) and extreme lateral interbody fusions (XLIFs). Using these techniques, we can remove and reconstruct damaged discs and vertebrae.
The robotic and navigation systems we use provide GPS-level precision, allowing us to see exactly where we are operating within the body during complex reconstructions.
An Integrated Culture of Multidisciplinary Collaboration
Collaboration is the backbone of care within my practice and at Ochsner Health as a whole. We have built a deeply interconnected network of multidisciplinary experts that include:
- Brain and spine surgeons
- Interventional pain management specialists
- Imaging clinicians
- PT specialists
- Advanced practice providers (APPs)
Our system supports a high level of integration. Because the majority of cases we handle are nonsurgical, I often order procedures like epidural steroid injections myself. Radiology, orthopedic, and PT teams within Ochsner Health all share one medical record and communicate freely and frequently.
This open, unified system keeps patients from getting lost during transitions between treatment teams and care settings.
I work very closely with my surgical partners. We regularly turn to one another for second or third opinions. Each of us brings something different to the table, which allows us to offer comprehensive and more specialized care locally.
Within our clinic, we have invested a lot of time and energy into building a collaborative culture that always aims to bring patients the best benefits.
Partnership with St. Tammany Parish Hospital
We have a long-standing partnership with St. Tammany Parish Hospital, serving as their primary brain and spine care providers. Over the years, we have expanded far beyond neurosurgery, building a dedicated intensive neurocritical care unit staffed by neurointensivists. The unit includes brain-and spine-specific inpatient floors where patients receive expert care from specially trained nurses.
In our OR, we deploy a unique “neuro team” of scrub technologists, fluoroscopy technologists, and other surgical and neurodiagnostic specialists, all dedicated to neurosurgery 24/7.
From pre-op through the OR and post-op—as well as across nonsurgical care—we have built highly skilled and specialized teams.
My Message to Referring Providers
Our referral base includes not only the roughly 250,000 people living in the Northshore, but also extends well across the region.
We have constructed a system that makes communication with referring providers smooth and easy. There are multiple referral avenues available through which providers can access me, my partners, and our fantastic team of nurses, medical assistants, and APPs.
In addition to delivering high-quality surgical and nonsurgical care, my team and I practice deep empathy and honesty with patients. We always put ourselves in the patient’s shoes, understanding challenges from their perspective during one of the most vulnerable times in their lives. We communicate openly, making sure patients understand their treatment options and engaging in shared decisions with them about how to proceed with care.
How to Refer
To contact Ochsner Neurosurgery-Covington about a patient referral, or to learn more about our Neurosurgery offerings, click here.
Explain More, Cut Less: Dr. Seth Hayes Approach to Neurosurgical Care on Louisiana's Northshore
My deep affinity for the field began nearly 20 years ago when, as a medical student, I first saw the positive impact spine and brain surgery can have on patients’ lives. Neurosurgery is so vast and comprehensive. As neurosurgeons we learn everything from interventional radiology and neuroradiology to radiation oncology—not to mention the technical skills we master.
At Ochsner Health Center, my team and I routinely utilize today’s most sophisticated robotic systems and minimally invasive surgical techniques to achieve the best possible outcomes for our patients with fewer complications and less recovery time.
It is truly a wondrous time to practice Neurosurgery.
My Patients are My Practice
There is, however, one aspect of neurosurgical care that does not sit right with me—and never will.
It is when patients come to see me for the first time—as referrals or seeking a second opinion—and lack a fundamental understanding of their condition and the reasons why they previously underwent procedures.
When I educate these patients, many respond with words of gratitude that both break my heart and inspire me: “Thank you. No one ever explained this tome before.”
Patient education is a central pillar of my practice. I spend a great deal of quality time explaining conditions to patients, walking them through treatment options, and listening attentively to their questions and concerns. Patients deserve honesty and understanding.
This is personal for me. I practice on Louisiana’s Northshore—treating patients from St. Tammany Parish to Tangipahoa Parish and beyond—a community where I have deep roots. My grandparents hail from the Northshore, my family and I live here, and my children attend school here. Many of the local folks I know—neighbors, friends, and colleagues—are also my patients.
That lends a deeper meaning to everything I do.
We Treat Most Conditions Nonsurgically
My team and I most commonly treat degenerative spine pathologies such as spinal stenosis, herniated disks, neck pain, and back pain.
Brain conditions we frequently treat include intracranial hemorrhages, subdural hematomas, and tumors.
Many patients and referring physicians are surprised to learn that we manage conditions nonsurgically 70% - 80% of the time in our outpatient clinic.
Our goal is always to accurately assess the severity of a patient’s condition and select the least invasive solution for them. That may mean simply reassuring and observing the patient, referring them for physical therapy (PT) or injections, and sometimes recommending surgical interventions.
Even when surgery is appropriate, we ask ourselves: “Can we do less?”
Minimally Invasive Surgery is like Building Ships in Bottles
Advancements in minimally invasive spine techniques and technologies continue to change the game in neurosurgery.
Today, using a combination of tubular retractors as small as 16-22 mm, microscopes, high-resolution cameras, and advanced navigation systems, my team and I can access pathology in ways impossible with the naked eye. When explaining minimally invasive surgery to patients, I liken it to building a ship in a bottle. We construct support structures in extremely tight spaces with incredible precision.
But I also make sure patients understand there is nothing “gimmicky” about these sophisticated surgical techniques. The benefits are real and include lower infection rates, much less blood loss, fewer complications, and far less collateral damage to healthy tissue.
Spinal techniques we perform include tubular microdiscectomy or laminectomy. We pursue the same goal with these minimally invasive procedures as with traditional open lumbar decompression—but through a tiny one-inch incision and small port.
Other minimally invasive procedures we offer include transforaminal lumbar interbody fusions (TLIFs) and extreme lateral interbody fusions (XLIFs). Using these techniques, we can remove and reconstruct damaged discs and vertebrae.
The robotic and navigation systems we use provide GPS-level precision, allowing us to see exactly where we are operating within the body during complex reconstructions.
An Integrated Culture of Multidisciplinary Collaboration
Collaboration is the backbone of care within my practice and at Ochsner Health as a whole. We have built a deeply interconnected network of multidisciplinary experts that include:
- Brain and spine surgeons
- Interventional pain management specialists
- Imaging clinicians
- PT specialists
- Advanced practice providers (APPs)
Our system supports a high level of integration. Because the majority of cases we handle are nonsurgical, I often order procedures like epidural steroid injections myself. Radiology, orthopedic, and PT teams within Ochsner Health all share one medical record and communicate freely and frequently.
This open, unified system keeps patients from getting lost during transitions between treatment teams and care settings.
I work very closely with my surgical partners. We regularly turn to one another for second or third opinions. Each of us brings something different to the table, which allows us to offer comprehensive and more specialized care locally.
Within our clinic, we have invested a lot of time and energy into building a collaborative culture that always aims to bring patients the best benefits.
Partnership with St. Tammany Parish Hospital
We have a long-standing partnership with St. Tammany Parish Hospital, serving as their primary brain and spine care providers. Over the years, we have expanded far beyond neurosurgery, building a dedicated intensive neurocritical care unit staffed by neurointensivists. The unit includes brain-and spine-specific inpatient floors where patients receive expert care from specially trained nurses.
In our OR, we deploy a unique “neuro team” of scrub technologists, fluoroscopy technologists, and other surgical and neurodiagnostic specialists, all dedicated to neurosurgery 24/7.
From pre-op through the OR and post-op—as well as across nonsurgical care—we have built highly skilled and specialized teams.
My Message to Referring Providers
Our referral base includes not only the roughly 250,000 people living in the Northshore, but also extends well across the region.
We have constructed a system that makes communication with referring providers smooth and easy. There are multiple referral avenues available through which providers can access me, my partners, and our fantastic team of nurses, medical assistants, and APPs.
In addition to delivering high-quality surgical and nonsurgical care, my team and I practice deep empathy and honesty with patients. We always put ourselves in the patient’s shoes, understanding challenges from their perspective during one of the most vulnerable times in their lives. We communicate openly, making sure patients understand their treatment options and engaging in shared decisions with them about how to proceed with care.
How to Refer
To contact Ochsner Neurosurgery-Covington about a patient referral, or to learn more about our Neurosurgery offerings, click here.
