News Around the State

Domkam brings minimally invasive surgery to the Delta

Dr. Alain Domkam, an endovascular surgeon, is now performing the newest minimally-invasive surgeries for thoracic aortic aneurysms, abdominal aneurysms, and varicose veins at Greenwood Leflore Hospital. He is the first surgeon in the Delta, and one of the first in North Mississippi, to do so.

A thoracic aortic aneurysm is a bulge in the aorta, the body’s main artery, which could rupture with life-threatening results. Until recently, the only treatment available to repair a thoracic aortic aneurysm was invasive open surgery. Now, with the GORE TAG Thoracic Endoprosthesis, Dr. Domkam can offer a less invasive method for treating this potentially deadly disease.

Invasive open surgery involves a large chest incision and prolonged clamping of the aorta. The minimally invasive procedure requires just a small incision near the groin. In clinical trials comparing the Thoracic Endoprosthesis to invasive open surgery, patients who received the GORE TAG experienced significantly fewer complications, less procedural blood loss, shorter hospital stays and a faster return to normal activity. Additionally, the mortality rate associated with the GORE TAG was one-sixth the mortality rate associated with open surgery.

In addition to the thoracic aneurysm procedure, Dr. Domkam is also performing the VNUS Closure procedure on varicose veins. The Closure procedure is performed on an outpatient basis. Using ultrasound, Dr. Domkam will position a catheter into the diseased vein through a small opening in the skin. The tiny catheter, powered by radio frequency energy, delivers heat to the vein wall. As the thermal energy is delivered, the vein wall shrinks and the vein is sealed closed. Once the diseased vein is closed, blood is re-routed to other healthy veins. This procedure is not limited to patients with varicose veins, but can also be used in patients who experience swollen limbs, leg heaviness and fatigue, limb pain and skin changes and ulcers.

“These procedure are cutting edge technology”, says Dr. Domkam, “and I’m excited to bring them to the Mississippi Delta.” Dr. Domkam also stresses that it is important to visit an endovascular surgeon for these conditions. “There may be physicians in the area who perform surgery for these ailments; however, vascular and endovascular surgeons are specially trained to handle any complications that may arise during surgery.”

Dr. Domkam has recently joined The Delta Surgical Clinic in Greenwood and is performing these procedures at Greenwood Leflore Hospital. Dr. Domkam brings world-wide experience to his position. He has extensive vascular training and completed a vascular fellowship at Rush University in Chicago. He also trained at Graduate Hospital in Philadelphia and was a resident at several prominent French hospitals. He earned his medical degree at the University of Henry Poincaré School of Medicine in France and received numerous honors for his training there.

Business roundtable held at GLH

The Business & Corporate Gifts Steering Committee of the Greenwood Leflore Hospital in Greenwood recently hosted its first leadership roundtable at the hospital. The purpose of the committee is to establish a closer relationship with businesses, corporations and civic organizations in order to strengthen community relations. The committee will hold a breakfast once a quarter to discuss community health issues and receive progress updates from Jerry Adams, executive director of the hospital.

Davis, Hill named during awards ceremony

Carolyn Davis has been named Greenwood Leflore Hospital’s Nurse of the Year and Queen Hill was named Certified Nursing Assistant of the Year. Davis, a charge nurse on the 5W nursing unit, has worked for the hospital since 1981. Hill, who also works on the 5W unit, has been employed by the hospital since 2001.

Surgeons filling need

Dr. Remi Nader is the first neurosurgeon Greenwood has had in three years. He has set up shop with Dr. Jimmy Miller at the North Central Mississippi Neurological Surgery Center on River Road near Greenwood Leflore Hospital.

Miller, 51, a 1979 graduate of the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, practiced in Tupelo and Southaven before making his move to Greenwood.

Nader moved from Galveston, Texas, where he completed a six-year residency. He trained at McGill University in his native Canada. He originally chose engineering as a career but later opted for medical school.

In October, Greenwood Leflore Hospital will be getting a "brain lab" that allows doctors to be much more precise during surgery. The equipment allows the surgeon to see on a screen exactly where an instrument is in the head and spine during surgery.

Cardiologist Thakur joins staff at GLH

Dr. Abhash Thakur, a board certified cardiologist, has joined the active medical staff of Greenwood Leflore Hospital in Greenwood. He is the first cardiologist the hospital has had in three years. He is accepting referrals at GLH’s Leflore Specialty Clinic.

In July, Thakur completed a cardiology fellowship at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York. He completed an internal medicine residency program at Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn, NY, in 2002. He graduated from MGM Medical College in Jhakand, India.

Greenwood-Leflore Hospital's new CT scanner provides better, quicker, less expensive testing

Greenwood Leflore Hospital recently acquired the new Toshiba Aquilon 32-slice CT scanner - the first of its kind in the region. The primary use of this new scanner will be coronary artery CT angiography.

The scanner uses a small IV inserted in the arm vein and produces very clear, detailed images quickly. The $2 million investment became fully operational in May. The scanner has a large opening, which can better accommodate larger patients and the speed of the scan requires only a brief breath hold.