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In a unique path breaking
surgery lasting for eight hours, the neurosurgery team at Wockhardt Hospitals,
Bangalore performed a pioneering technique by which, for the first time in the
country, a brain tumor was removed using a 4mm endoscopes that was guided
through the patient's nasal cavity. Through this technique, incisions on the
skin and scalp are completely avoided and there is faster recovery, leading to
cost reduction.
The surgery, which demands exceptional skill and specialized equipment, was
conducted on a 40 year old lady who was diagnosed with a brain tumor measuring 2
centimeters. While endoscopes have been previously used for brain surgeries
related to cavities within the brain and occasionally to remove the tumors from
the pituitary gland through the nose, this is the first reported case in the
country where an endoscope was used to
remove a brain tumor without open surgery.
"The patient complained of mild headaches and visual disturbance in the right
eye. Preliminary investigations including a CT scan revealed that she had
developed a tumour in the brain which was exerting pressure on the right optic
nerve and thereby hampering her vision. Also, the position of the tumor was
such, that there was the added threat of causing injury to the brain if the
conventional surgery method was used wherein a large window is created in the
skull and the brain is lifted to remove the tumor. We conducted several tests on
her including an MRI and weighed the options available to us before
deciding to use the minimally invasive approach with endoscopes." said Dr.
Rajakumar, Consultant Neurosurgeon, Wockhardt Hospitals.
"This technique marks the beginning of a new era in Neurosurgery. This is the
way forward. It reduces complications, pain, discomfort, bleeding and most
importantly, the patient's stay in the hospital. It also has its cosmetic
advantages as it leaves no scars." said Dr. Rajakumar.
This adept use of technology demonstrates Wockhardt's commitment to providing
exceptional clinical care and the most advanced techniques to the community,"
said Vishal Bali, CEO, Wockhardt Hospitals Group.
"The availability of the most sophisticated neuro-diagnostic and imaging
equipment including Asia's most advanced MRI and CT Technologies to our
neurologists and neurosurgeons make it possible for them to constantly evolve
and develop new approaches and treatment modalities for brain and spine
complexities" said Dr Lloyd Nazareth, Head - Wockhardt Hospitals, Bangalore.
Dr. Rajkumar has to his credit a clinical fellowship in skull base surgery at
Wayne State University, Detroit, USA and is one of the few Neurosurgeons who is
performing endoscopic brain and spine surgeries in India.
Wockhardt Hospitals Group is a leading pan India provider of super specialty
healthcare. It has a cluster of super specialty hospitals in Mumbai and
Bangalore dedicated to cardiology, neurology, orthopaedics, minimal access
surgery and Women's health. Its heart hospitals are at Bangalore, Mumbai,
Hyderabad and Nagpur. Its super specialty kidney hospital is at Kolkata. The
Group runs 10 hospitals in Indian and is currently implementing 8 hospitals at
various locations.
(Ref : Chronicle Pharmabiz dated March 8, 2007)
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