Institutes & Services

• Intervertebral Disc Biacuplasty

  To relieve back pain caused by degeneration, or wearing out, of the lumbar intervertebral discs, heat is used to destroy the overgrowth of the nerve fibers in the disc, which significantly reduces the pain.

• Supraorbital Nerve Stimulation

  To treat facial pain that can follow an episode of shingles, a condition called intractable postherpetic trigeminal neuralgia, a surgical flat “paddle” lead is implanted, which provides better current distribution, fewer surges and better pain control for patients.

• Doctor-Patient Music Connection

  This program aims to enhance the patient-doctor relationship, raising communication to a higher level through the performing arts.

• Music and the Brain Symposium

  Music and its impact on the nervous system were explored at a unique symposium in June 2008, through a partnership between the Arts & Medicine Institute and the Neurological Institute.

Cleveland Clinic is only the second center in the United States to clinically use the Perfexion Gamma Knife machine, which allows for more effective and efficient radiosurgery treatment.

The 4th Angel Mentoring Program, a part of the Scott Hamilton CARES Initiative, supports newly diagnosed patients by matching them with trained volunteers who are cancer survivors. The program has now been exported to other states and cancer centers. Other programs to support cancer patients include high tea, pet therapy and art therapy.

In recent years, Taussig Cancer Institute has led the nation in developmental work on tyrosine kinase inhibitors, leading to approval for sunitinib and several tyrosine kinase inhibitors and targeted therapeutic agents for kidney cancer.

DNMT1 Depletion Is Targeted Therapy Against Cancer

Research suggests that cancer could be treated in a novel way this is much less toxic to healthy cells. Current treatments kill both cancer cells and healthy cells, which lead to numerous side effects. The differences between cancer cells and healthy cells can be exploited to selectively stop the growth of cancer cells.

Hyperthermia Therapy for Surface and Recurrent Tumors

In 2008, the Radiation Oncology Department introduced hyperthermia therapy, providing an important treatment option for patients with surface and recurrent tumors. Hyperthermia therapy is a noninvasive method of increasing tumor temperature to stimulate blood flow, increase oxygenation and render tumor cells more sensitive to radiation. Used in conjunction with standard radiation therapy, hyperthermia therapy allows radiation oncologists to increase the delivery of radiation to the tumor while minimizing damage to healthy tissues.

• Face Transplant

  On December 17, 2008 a multi-disciplinary team of doctors and surgeons performed the first near total face transplant. In a 23-hour procedure performed over two weeks, surgeons transplanted 80 percent of a woman’s face who suffered facial trauma – essentially replacing her entire face, except for her upper eyelids, forehead, lower lip and chin. This is the largest and most complex face transplant in the world, integrating different functional components such as nose and lower eyelids, as well as different tissue types including, skin, muscles, bony structures, arteries, veins and nerves. Cleveland Clinic Dermatology and Plastic Surgery Institute led the face transplant surgery, partnering with the Cleveland Clinic Head & Neck Institute.

Mohs Micrographic Surgery

Mohs surgery provides the highest cure rate for high-risk melanoma skin cancers, while sparing the maximum amount of normal skin. Cleveland Clinic dermatologists performed approximately 2,100 Mohs procedures in 2007 and now offer the surgery in Independence and Beachwood, as well as Cleveland Clinic Main Campus. This expanded access at more locations affords patients more timely treatment of skin cancer.

• Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction (DIEP)

  Our plastic surgeons have pioneered recent advances in breast reconstruction, including the innovative DIEP technique. The benefit of this procedure, a variation of the more commonly performed TRAM operation, is that it preserves abdominal muscle, so most patients experience less discomfort.

• Minimally Invasive Techniques in Facial Cosmetic Surgery

  Our Department of Plastic Surgery has focused on alternatives to face and necklift surgery, short-scar facelifts and minimally-invasive facelift techniques, with the emphasis on pain reduction, improved recovery times, and longer-term enhancements.

  Laser Treatments

  Cleveland Clinic's Department of Dermatology continues to upgrade and improve our laser services, providing one of the most advanced and comprehensive laser programs in Northeast Ohio. We offer the latest advances in technology and care, with a dozen ablative and non-ablative lasers, including the state-of-the-art Fraxel laser, used for treatment of scars and wrinkles, tattoo removal, treatment of vascular lesions, hair removal and pigmented lesion removal.

• Single-Port Laparoscopic Colectomy

  Cleveland Clinic surgeons can now remove a patient's colon through a technique called single-port surgery. The operation requires only a single, tiny belly button incision, leaving little to no scarring. Digestive Disease Institute surgeons recently performed the world's first single-port laparoscopic colectomy (partial removal of the colon). This new technique offers several advantages to patients: less pain, quicker recovery, as well as a dramatically lower chance of developing scar tissue and complications later in life.

• Robotic Liver and Pancreas Surgery

  Digestive Disease Institute surgeons are now using a state-of-the-art, FDA-approved robot to perform liver and pancreas surgery. Robotic-assisted surgery, a type of minimally invasive surgery (MIS), uses surgical robotic equipment, which imitates surgical movements. MIS procedures allow surgeons to operate through small ports rather than large incisions, resulting in shorter recovery times, fewer complications and reduced hospital stays.

• Endoscopic Cryospray Ablation

  The Digestive Disease Institute has been studying cryoablation as an option for treating precancerous growths and early esophageal cancers. A study recently published by John Dumot, DO, and colleagues from Cleveland Clinic's Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy found that the procedure – which uses liquid nitrogen to produce a freezing burn to the esophagus's lining – is well tolerated and produces favorable outcomes. Cleveland Clinic is now participating in a multicenter clinical trial that will help determine if cryoablation will fulfill its promise as a safe, simple and effective minimally invasive option for treating patients with esophageal dysplasia.

Cleveland Clinic offers a five-year medical school with innovative curriculum that incorporates clinical medicine and research.

Live, online computer chats with a health educator offer patients personalized help in finding credible, informative health information.

There are 52 leadership and management courses available to Cleveland Clinic leaders with a Master’s Degree.

• Laparoscopic Liver Resection

  Over the last year, Cleveland Clinic Endocrinology & Metabolism Institute (EMI) surgeons have developed techniques for laparoscopic liver resection, a procedure that enables removal of liver tumors through small incisions in the abdomen, resulting in less operative blood loss, fewer analgesic requirements, quicker advance to a regular diet, and decreased hospital stay and overall cost compared with conventional open liver resection.

• Robotic Liver Resection

  In line with the laparoscopic liver resection program, the EMI surgeons have started a robotic liver resection program. The use of the robot increases dexterity and versatility in laparoscopic procedures. Four patients have undergone robotic liver resection to date, all with good results.

• Laparoscopic Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) of Adrenal Tumors

  Some patients are not candidates for adrenalectomy due to unresectable cancer or medical comorbidities that preclude a long anesthesia time. The endocrine surgery team has applied laparoscopic RFA for the management of such patients. To date, three patients with adrenal malignancies and one patient with an enlarging benign adenoma have received this new treatment, without complications. This is the first laparoscopic RFA experience in the world for managing adrenal tumors.

• Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Receptor (TSHR) mRNA Assay Steps

  Since 2001, we have studied the clinical applications of detecting TSHR mRNA in circulation. This marker was developed at Cleveland Clinic, and represents a novel diagnostic tool in that it detects circulating thyroid cancer cells, rather than thyroidrelated proteins or hormones. It is undetectable in people who have normal thyroids and can distinguish among patients who have benign thyroid disease and initial and recurrent thyroid cancer. After multiple clinical studies, TSHR mRNA became a routinely available clinical test in 2008, offered to patients locally, nationally and internationally. Cleveland Clinic has the only specialized reference lab to provide this test.

• Parathyroid/Calcium/Osteoporosis

  Primary hyperparathyroidism is a strong risk factor for bone disease. Results of a study undertaken by endocrine surgeons at Cleveland Clinic indicated that this association has been underappreciated in men. With improved screening practices, surgeons were able to determine that the prevalence of osteoporosis in this population of men with primary hyperparathyroidism was very similar to that of women, a finding not previously recognized.

• Gastric Plication Procedure for Severe Obesity

  Bariatric and Metabolic Institute surgeons have been developing a less invasive surgical procedure for longterm weight loss. Gastric plication offers important advantages over other bariatric procedures in that it involves no stapling, cutting or removal of tissue. Therefore, it is minimally invasive and can be performed in an outpatient setting and can be easily reversed.

• Osteoradionecrosis

  Our studies of surgical resection and vascularized bone reconstruction of refractory radiation-induced jaw deterioration, commonly termed “osteoradionecrosis” (ORN) of the mandible, is the largest reported in the literature. In a group of 33 end-stage patients, we had a 100% flap survival rate and a 94% cure rate for the infectious complications.

• Wegener's Disease

  We have developed a novel extramucosal approach to nasal reconstruction in Wegener's patients with the use of bone taken from the outer layer of the skull. The avoidance of incisions in the nasal lining hypothetically limits the risk of Wegener’s flare-ups.

• Endoscopic Management of Anterior Skull-Base Neoplasms

  The Section of Nasal and Sinus Disorders has been an international leader in the development and refinement of surgical techniques for minimally invasive management of anterior skull-base neoplasms.

• 

  1958

  Cardiologist F. Mason Sones, Jr., MD, develops coronary angiography, which allows doctors to view the heart and its vessels through moving X-rays.

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  1967

  Cardiac surgeon Rene Favaloro, MD, pioneers coronary bypass surgery, grafting a vein removed from the leg to diseased coronary arteries in order to increase blood flow to the heart.

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  1980

  Cardiac surgeon, Delos M. Cosgrove, MD, develops a mitral valve retractor and annuloplasty ring that enables more effective heart valve repairs.

• 1996

  Cardiac surgeon, Delos M. Cosgrove, MD, performs the world's first minimally invasive heart valve surgery.

• 2008

  The Heart and Vascular Institute moved into the Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Pavilion. At 1 million square feet, it is the largest facility in the country dedicated to cardiovascular care.

• Uterine Fibroid Embolization

  This minimally invasive, non-surgical method is an alternative to the traditional treatment of a hysterectomy, a major surgery.

• Cardiovascular Imaging Lab (CVIL)

  CVIL coronary CT exams are performed routinely in patients with low to intermediate risk factors for coronary artery disease. State-of-the-art CT equipment also minimizes radiation.

• Vascular Anomalies Imaging

  Patients of all ages with congenital soft tissue masses, birthmarks and hemangiomas can consider multi-modality imaging using ultrasound and MRI. This treatment is now available to make correct diagnosis, determine the extent of involvement and effect management.

At the Lorain Institute:

Orthopaedic surgeons offer partial knee replacement surgery in an outpatient setting.

Ophthalmologists provide comprehensive eye care, including treatment for glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic eye and corneal disease, and transplantation.

Joint specialists are available to consult and perform joint revision surgery.

• Better Health Greater Cleveland

  Medicine Institute primary care physicians participate in a community-wide collaborative effort to improve chronic disease care and outcomes through consumer engagement and public sharing of quality data. The group has addressed type 2 diabetes mellitus and will address heart failure and hypertension over the next 2 years.

• International Diabetes Center

  In 2007, the Medicine Institute and the Endocrinology and Metabolism Institute began to implement the Diabetes Connection program to further improve care for our diabetes patients. The program constitutes a three-phased intervention designed to improve our care and education programs with the appropriate infrastructure, systems and processes.

• The Hypertension Improvement Team

  In 2007, a dedicated performance improvement team was formed to focus on the management of our hypertension population in adult primary care areas. Clinical support staff were re-educated about blood pressure reading accuracy, while providers and their support staff benefited from lectures focused on improving hypertension compliance percentages.

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  Stereotactic Spine Radiosurgery

  Through the use of this unique technology, a high dose of radiation is delivered to a spinal tumor(s), providing pain relief to patients through a non-invasive, outpatient procedure without recovery time.

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  Advanced Imaging for Epilepsy

  To localize the seizure focus with more precision in patients who suffer from intractable epilepsies, the Epilepsy Center added magnetoencephalography (MEG) to the diagnostic capabilities. Cleveland Clinic is the first one in Ohio and one of a select number of institutions in the world to have this technology.

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  Center for Brain Health

  Cleveland Clinic's Neurological Institute is pleased to announce the creation of our new Center for Brain Health. The Center will bring together an interdisciplinary team of researchers, clinicians, therapists, surgeons, imaging specialists and a variety of other experts to establish programs that will improve our diagnosis and treatment of the cognitive disorders. The Center will provide state-of-the-art care for these disorders and for the family members of those who suffer from them.

• Fertility Preservation

  Cleveland Clinic's fertility specialists have developed expertise in the best cryopreservation techniques.

• Robotics

  Our surgeons are increasingly using a robot to assist in the minimally invasive treatment of gynecologic disorders, particularly vaginal prolapse and hysterectomy, giving patients the benefits of minimally invasive surgery with less blood loss, fewer complications and shorter hospital stays.

• Nipple Sparing Mastectomy

  Preservation of the nipple areolar complex at the time of mastectomy has been pioneered at Cleveland Clinic. Our outcomes for this procedure have been superior and our experience with more than 200 procedures is one of the largest in the world.

• Free Flap Breast Reconstruction

  Our microvascular breast reconstructive surgeons have considerable experience with free flap reconstructions, which are only offered in a select group of centers worldwide.

• Dr. Hollyfield Recognized

  Joe G. Hollyfield, PhD, Professor of Ophthalmology at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine was selected as the next recipient of the Proctor Medal by the Board of Trustees of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. This prestigious award recognizes his work in significantly advancing the understanding of the cell biology of photoreceptors, interphotoreceptor matrix and the pigment epithelium.

• Developing New Therapeutics for Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

  A research team led by Joe G. Hollyfield, PhD, has developed the first animal model of AMD that will enable researchers to efficiently and effectively develop and test novel therapies to both prevent the disease and slow vision loss.

• Managing Pain after Total Knee Replacement

  For patients undergoing knee replacement, pain control is improved by using a combination of a femoral nerve catheter, a spinal anesthetic, and an analgesic cocktail. Using this new pain protocol has led to patients having significantly less pain on each day of their hospital stay, with improved function scores up to 4 weeks after surgery.

• First Arthroscopic Knee Resurfacing Procedure

  Anthony Miniaci, MD, FRCSC, Executive Director of Cleveland Clinic Sports Health, developed the UniCAP, the first knee resurfacing procedure to be performed using arthroscopy. The UniCAP system is the first to utilize arthroscopy to re-line damaged surfaces on the inside or outside of the knee, or under the kneecap. For active individuals, it is more effective than other treatments in getting joints to move smoothly and painlessly and less drastic than total knee replacement.

Our researchers are constantly finding new modes for therapy or patient safety.They receive funding from: National Institute of Health (NIH), Department of Defense (DoD), National Science Foundation (NSF), National Research Council (NRC), various corporate sponsors and departmental funds. In addition to more effective care for patients, we have collectively published numerous articles, books, and book chapters and lectured nationally and internationally. Our staff hold 6 patents and another 4 are pending approval. Some of these include:

1. Computer-Aided Prescription of Specialized Seats for Wheelchairs or Other Body Supports
2. Mobility Aid Securement System for Vehicles
3. Patient Support Apparatus Having an Air Cell Grid and Associated Method
4. Head Support for Pressure Relief

5. Prediction of Clinical Outcome Using Large Array Surface Myoelectric Potential

Read more about our clinical studies and research.

1. Technology is developed that can influence a patient’s own stem cells to travel to the site of the injured heart tissue. The stem cells then continue the tissue healing.

2. A test is developed to measure levels of the enzyme myeloperoxidase (MPO) in human Plasma as a reliable predictor of future near-term cardiac events.

3. Drugs are developed to offer protection from radiation and to treat cancer.

• The Respiratory Special Care Unit (ReSCU)

  The Respiratory Special Care Unit (ReSCU) was created for persons who depend on mechanical ventilation to breathe but who are otherwise healthy enough to leave the intensive care unit. The primary goals of the ReSCU are to have patients breathe without the ventilator, teach patients self-care, teach family members how to care for the patient and manage the ventilator at home and prepare the patient and family for the patient's discharge to another facility.

• Bronchial Artery Revascularization (BAR)

  Bronchial artery revascularization (BAR) is a surgical technique intended to restore bronchial arterial circulation to transplanted lungs. Cleveland Clinic’s Transplant Surgical Team currently is conducting a prospective pilot study offering BAR at the time of transplantation with the reasoning that by restoring bronchial blood supply both short- and long-term outcomes in lung transplant patients may be improved.

  IBV (Intra-Bronchial Valve)

  Over the last few years, Cleveland Clinic pulmonologists have been participating in several multicenter trials to assess the efficacy and safety of bronchoscopic treatments for patients with severe emphysema. One such device, manufactured by Spiration, Inc., is an umbrella-shaped nitinol framed prothesis with a synthetic polymer cover. The flexible nitinol frame enables the valve to maintaiin contact with the airway wall and prevent air from passing into the diseased portions of the lungs while allowing for mucus and air to escape. This creates a one-way valve effect and redirects inspired air from the diseased upper lobes to the healthier lower lobes.

  Exhale Airway Stents for Emphysema

  Another trial currently enrolling at Cleveland Clinic is a randomized, double-blind study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Exhale® drug-eluting stent in patients with homogeneous emphysema and severe hyperinflation. This technique involves creating artificial airways, or "airways bypasses," across the wall of poorly functioning existing airways.

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  Innovative Combination of New Technologies in Reconstructive Laparoscopic Surgery

  A novel platform to perform reconstructive procedures combines a new robotic-endoscope holder, 3D vision and articulated instruments. This research won the first place award at the Engineering and Urology Society's 2008 meeting.

  Stereotactic Percutaneous Cryoablation for Renal Tumor

  Our surgeons have developed a stereotactic navigation system specifically for percutaneous probe ablation of kidney tumors. Accuracy using this navigation system was 4 mm and radiation exposure was reduced.

  LaparoEndoscopic Single-Site (LESS) Surgery

  Laparoscopic surgeons at the Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute have developed and employed a novel port with multiple working channels that allows laparoscopic surgery to be completed through a single, 2 cm incision. In many instances, this single incision is buried in the umbilicus and offers a nearly scarless postoperative appearance.

  Single-Port Single-Surgeon Surgery

  Single-port single-surgeon transumbilical partial nephrectomy, pyeloplasty and radical nephrectomy were performed in our laboratory using a novel light endoscopic robot. This research has the potential to make single-port laparoscopy more effective toward surgery without visible scars.

  STEP (Single-Port Transvesical Simple Prostatectomy

  A single-port device is introduced percutaneously into the bladder under cystoscopic guidance. After establishing pneumovesicum, the adenoma is enucleated in its entirety and extracted through the vesical port site. Hemostasis is performed under direct vision.