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Jun 4, 2009 5:53 pm US/Eastern
Endoscopic Brain Surgery Offering New Hope
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
For people with problems in the brain, the thought of having their skull opened for the complicated procedure is likely quite daunting. But, there may be an easier, less invasive way to deal with some brain problems.
"I feel pressure come and leave me, come and leave me and I feel something stretch," explained 46-year-old Hemed Meshulam. He suffers from migraines and ear infections.
A CAT scan revealed the pain was caused by a colloid cyst. Symptoms include headaches, memory deficit, urinary incontinence and difficulty walking.
"Colloid cysts are basically an abnormal sack that is located in a very uncomfortable situation in the brain, causing obstruction of the brain fluid," said Dr. Santiago Figuereo with the Miami Neurological Institute. Figuereo was able to help Meshulam using a minimally invasive brain surgery.
"The normal, traditional approach has a lot of complications which includes paralysis, or weakness in one side of the body because of the retraction of the brain in certain areas that are needed to approach the cyst," explained Figuereo.
With the minimally invasive endoscopic alternative, a one-inch hole is drilled into the skull which results in less damage to the brain, less pain and less scarring. The endoscopic alternative is used on a variety of tumors and depending on the location of the tumor doctors can sometimes go through the nose to perform the procedure. Another benefit is that recovery time is much quicker.
Figuereo said he was able to remove Meshulam's cyst completely without complications. For Meshulam, he was out of the hospital in two days and back to work in two weeks.
"Now I feel much better every day," admitted Meshulam.
To reach Dr. Figuereo at the Miami Neurological Institute call 786-623-2000.
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