Pioneering eyebrow surgery removes large brain tumours

Pioneering surgery to take away large brain tumours via the eyebrows of sufferers has been efficiently carried out in Scotland.

In what has been described as a “world first”, NHS Grampian stated tumours the dimensions of large apples have been eliminated utilizing the method.

Consultant neurosurgeon Anastasios Giamouriadis has tailored the already-existing eyebrow method to allow him to now take away bigger growths – a growth which he described as a “game-changer”.

The surgery is alleged to have fewer problems, a shorter working and restoration time, and fewer scarring in consequence. One recipient – who described her tumour as like a tennis ball – stated she was out of hospital in simply two days with nothing however a black eye.

Traditional surgery for sufferers with tumours on the entrance of their brain includes having to take away a large a part of the cranium, to take away a large a part of the cranium, in what is named a craniotomy.

It is a prolonged, advanced course of, which might take as much as 10 hours, and exposes wholesome components of the brain throughout the operation.

Known because the Modified Eyebrow Keyhole SupraOrbital Approach for Brain Tumours, the brand new method means sufferers are anticipated to be left with solely a small scar and a black eye.

Some are in a position to depart hospital simply 24 hours later and return to work inside days.

Doreen Adams, 75, from Aberdeen, beforehand had a craniotomy to take away a tumour.

This is the removing of a part of the cranium to show the brain

She has now had the brand new surgery, and described the distinction as “night and day” between the 2 surgical procedures.

“You hear of these things, but no – going through your eyebrow? No – you just can’t think,” she advised BBC Scotland News.

“My tumour was like a tennis ball – how can you get that out of small here.

“In two days this man – this glorious younger man – goes to offer me my life again.

“And that’s exactly what he’s gone and done.”

She defined: “My restoration from the surgery at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary was a lot, a lot faster.

“I was out of hospital two days later and back to my normal life almost immediately.

“I was out in two days with nothing apart from a black eye.

“To think you can have brain surgery and be back to normal within a few days is quite incredible.

“I’m very grateful to Mr Giamouriadis and NHS Grampian – it’s fantastic that we have this innovative approach and these skills here in the north east.”

Mr Giamouriadis told BBC Scotland News: “I seen over my profession, particularly throughout my coaching, that even when the operation goes rather well with none problems it takes fairly a big time for the sufferers to get well.”

He said of the new process: “I didn’t invent this type of surgery, but I have modified it to give me more space, through the eyebrows, and it is allowing me to remove very big brain tumours.

“We usually are not conscious of anyplace else on the planet that has managed to take away tumours as large as we’ve.

“We are entering through the eyebrow. It gives us a very limited space but allows us to carry out the surgery more quickly and with less complications.”

He stated the operation might be over in as little as three hours.

“Traditionally individuals could be left with scars throughout their full brow, we keep away from that with this technique,” he explained.

“Normally our sufferers will go dwelling on the second day with a bruised eye, as anticipated, which can return again to regular inside a number of days.

“It makes a huge effect for the affected person, for his or her households, for the society, for the organisation, for the NHS.

“It’s a game-changer.”