VA Medical Hospital adds new procedure

A new intra-operative hormone test for parathyroid surgery patients was added to the list of procedures performed at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Hospital in November.

Hyperparathyroidism is a condition affecting the amount of parathyroid hormone released into a patient’s bones, resulting in possible Vitamin D deficiency and chronic kidney disease. Most individuals with hyperparathyroidism have only one diseased gland of the four located in the neck; in the past the hospital had to send blood samples to Oklahoma, but with the help of Dr. Carla Braxton, MEDVAMC is now able to perform the tests onsite, assisting health care practitioners with real-time decision making.

Braxton was hired to the MEDVAMC team in September.

MEDVAMC strives to offer the latest surgical techniques for veterans, and is located at 2002 Holcombe.