Latest news with #neurosurgery
Malay Mail
5 days ago
- Health
- Malay Mail
The invisible club — Nahrizul Adib Kadri
I'm often told I look normal. In fact, when I sit in the waiting room of the neuro clinic for my annual check-up, I might even look like I'm there for someone else. I dress neatly. I walk in unaided. I respond when my name is called. There's no oxygen tank by my side, no slurred speech, no visible signs that something once went deeply wrong. But I'm the patient. I'm the one with a brainstem cavernoma — a rare malformation tucked deep inside the pons, where vital things live: breathing, swallowing, balance, vision. Mine was discovered almost by accident in late 2015 after a year of quiet, persistent numbness. No real pain. Just a strange tingling on the left side of my body — like when your leg falls asleep. Except this one didn't wake up. Even after diagnosis, I felt mostly fine. Until I didn't. On my 41st birthday, after a small slice of cake, I vomited. Just once. But I remembered what my neurosurgeon had said: If anything changes, head straight to emergency. So I did. What followed was a slow spiral — days in a hospital room, my vision narrowing, my head heavy as stone. They drilled a hole in my skull to relieve the pressure. And when things didn't improve, they opened it properly. They removed the cavernoma. And with it, a part of the person I used to be. The surgery was a success. Technically. The mass was gone, but the aftermath lingered. I emerged with right-side facial paralysis and fine motor loss in my left hand. I couldn't use a straw to drink. I couldn't button a shirt with my left hand. I couldn't pronounce the consonants F, V, B, or M without sounding like I was underwater. These were not headline-worthy losses. No one made a documentary about it. But they changed my daily rhythm in subtle ways. And now, almost a decade later, they still do. In the neuro clinic, I'm often the most 'normal-looking' person in the room. There's a cruel kind of irony to that. Some patients shuffle in, others are wheeled. Some can't speak. Others don't respond. Then there's me — smiling halfway, speaking carefully, nodding with one side of my face. And because I pass, people assume I'm fine. That I've recovered. That the story is over. But recovery doesn't always mean return. Sometimes it means reinvention. I'm not who I was. But I'm someone still becoming. We live in a world obsessed with how things appear — with symmetry, vitality, performance. And we admire recovery when it ends in a triumphant 'after.' What we don't talk about is the middle. That long, awkward middle where you're not who you were, and not yet sure who you'll be. It's in that space I've quietly learned how to live again — how to laugh when others flinch at my half-smile, how to teach when my words won't form the way they used to, how to type research papers when my fingers fumble the home keys. Haruki Murakami once wrote, 'Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.' It's the kind of quote that looks great on a poster, but feels slippery in practice. Pain can change you long before you choose how to respond to it. And sometimes, just waking up and carrying on is the only choice you have. Murakami's characters often walk through surreal landscapes of loss and disorientation, not to escape their pain but to better understand it. I think about that often — how we don't really get out of the woods, we just learn to walk differently within them. I like to think there's a quiet club for people like me. We don't meet. We don't speak of it. But we recognise each other — in the slightly delayed grip of a handshake, in the gentle sway of someone regaining balance, in the pause before a word that's harder to pronounce than it used to be. Coelho once wrote, 'The strongest love is the love that can demonstrate its fragility.' Maybe the same can be said for strength itself. Real strength isn't loud. It doesn't announce its victories. It adapts. It hums quietly beneath the surface of ordinary things: holding a pen, buttoning a cuff, walking into a clinic with your head held just high enough. Over time, you learn to stop explaining yourself. People will think you're fine, and you let them. Not because you owe them silence, but because you've made peace with being misread. When someone asks me if I'm fully recovered, I say, 'I'm well.' And I mean it. I'm well in ways that matter. I teach, I research, I write. I raise three sons with a woman who knew me before all this. I show up. I adapt. I live. But once a year, when I sit in that neuro clinic — surrounded by wheelchairs, soft-spoken nurses, and a neurosurgeon who never forget my face — I remember that I belong to a quiet category. Not the visibly broken. Not the visibly healed. Just quietly altered. And maybe that's the mark I carry now — not the scar at the back of my head, not the asymmetry of my smile, but the quiet knowledge that looking normal and being fine are not the same thing. Not even close. * Ir Dr Nahrizul Adib Kadri is a professor of biomedical engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, and the Principal of Ibnu Sina Residential College, Universiti Malaya. He may be reached at [email protected]. ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
Khaleej Times
08-07-2025
- Health
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: 68-year-old expat undergoes complex 9-hour brain surgery for rare tumour
A 68-year-old British expat in Dubai has successfully undergone a rare and complex nine-hour brain surgery to remove a life-threatening tumour that had invaded deep parts of his brain. The patient, who wished to remain anonymous, was diagnosed with a 'butterfly glioma' — a rare and aggressive type of brain tumour that spreads across both hemispheres of the brain through the corpus callosum, the bundle of nerve fibres connecting the two sides. His health concerns began in April 2025, when he noticed weakness in his right leg and had trouble standing up. He also struggled to swallow and experienced involuntary shaking in his left arm, symptoms that worsened over the following weeks. Eventually, he became unable to walk or lift his right arm. Initially, doctors suspected a spinal issue after an X-ray and MRI showed signs of degeneration in his lower back. But as his symptoms progressed, further tests were done, and brain scans revealed a mass deep inside his brain. He was referred to Dr Gopalakrishnan CV, a consultant neurosurgeon at Medcare Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital, who led the high-risk surgical procedure. Using advanced neuronavigation technology, Dr Gopalakrishnan and his team accessed the tumour through a narrow passage in the frontal lobe. The tumour, located about three centimetres below the surface, was grayish and partly soft, but it had spread to critical areas including the right frontal lobe and the septum pellucidum, a delicate membrane near the brain's centre, which also had to be removed. Several damaged blood vessels and areas of dead tissue were also found. The tests also revealed that his pupils were equal and reactive to light, with full and conjugate eye movements. According to the doctor, the cranial nerve examination was normal, although the fundus could not be assessed. Doctors found that the patient had some weakness in his right arm, particularly when bending and straightening the elbow and when lifting the arm sideways. "His leg was more affected, he had very limited strength in bending his right knee and moderate weakness when trying to straighten it," said Dr Gopalkrishnan, adding that his reflexes were normal, his sense of touch was mostly unaffected, and there were no unusual muscle twitches. 'Treating butterfly gliomas is one of the greatest challenges in neurosurgery,' said Dr Gopalakrishnan. 'These tumours grow aggressively in deep parts of the brain and can change a person's personality and behaviour. Our aim is not just to extend life, but to preserve its quality. With precise surgery and cutting-edge treatments like Tumor Treating Fields and proton beam therapy, we're pushing the boundaries of what's possible.' Butterfly gliomas, or glioblastomas, are among the most aggressive brain tumours. They can cause severe symptoms like headaches, personality changes, seizures, and memory or movement problems. Standard treatment usually involves surgery, followed by radiation and chemotherapy. The average survival time after diagnosis is around 10 to 15 months, but outcomes depend on age, overall health, how much of the tumour can be removed, and certain genetic markers. New approaches such as immunotherapy and targeted treatments are offering fresh hope. Reflecting on his journey, the patient shared that getting this diagnosis was overwhelming at first. 'But I have found strength I didn't know I had. With the care and encouragement from my medical team and loved ones, I am staying hopeful and focusing on living each day with purpose and gratitude.'
Times of Oman
06-07-2025
- Health
- Times of Oman
SQUH successfully performs delicate brain tumor surgery
Muscat: An integrated surgical team at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) Medical City has successfully performed a delicate operation to remove a tumor from a critical area of a patient's brain using the 'awake craniotomy' technique — the first procedure of its kind in the Sultanate of Oman. This procedure is considered one of the most advanced and complex in neurosurgery, requiring extreme precision and close coordination among the medical team, while keeping the patient fully awake throughout the surgery. The operation was led by Dr. Ghassan bin Salem Al Sudairi, Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon, with participation from a select group of Omani specialists from various fields. The surgery lasted several hours, during which the team successfully removed the tumor while the patient remained awake and engaged in direct interaction through various neurological tests. This approach enabled the complete removal of the tumor without causing any neurological side effects. The awake craniotomy technique is used for tumors located near areas of the brain responsible for speech, movement, or cognition. By keeping the patient fully awake during the procedure, surgeons can monitor neurological functions in real time to ensure optimal outcomes and avoid damage to vital areas of the brain, such as those controlling speech, motor skills, and sensory perception. This achievement marks a significant milestone in the advancement and preparedness of Oman's national healthcare system. It underscores the competence of national medical professionals and highlights the readiness of the country's healthcare institutions to keep pace with the latest global medical innovations. It also reflects the ambitious vision of the University Medical City to achieve medical leadership regionally and globally, through investments in advanced technologies and the empowerment of national talent.
Times of Oman
06-07-2025
- Health
- Times of Oman
SQUH successfully performs delicate brain tumour surgery
Muscat: An integrated surgical team at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) Medical City has successfully performed a delicate operation to remove a tumour from a critical area of a patient's brain using the 'awake craniotomy' technique — the first procedure of its kind in the Sultanate of Oman. This procedure is considered one of the most advanced and complex in neurosurgery, requiring extreme precision and close coordination among the medical team, while keeping the patient fully awake throughout the surgery. The operation was led by Dr. Ghassan bin Salem Al Sudairi, Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon, with participation from a select group of Omani specialists from various fields. The surgery lasted several hours, during which the team successfully removed the tumor while the patient remained awake and engaged in direct interaction through various neurological tests. This approach enabled the complete removal of the tumor without causing any neurological side effects. The awake craniotomy technique is used for tumors located near areas of the brain responsible for speech, movement, or cognition. By keeping the patient fully awake during the procedure, surgeons can monitor neurological functions in real time to ensure optimal outcomes and avoid damage to vital areas of the brain, such as those controlling speech, motor skills, and sensory perception. This achievement marks a significant milestone in the advancement and preparedness of Oman's national healthcare system. It underscores the competence of national medical professionals and highlights the readiness of the country's healthcare institutions to keep pace with the latest global medical innovations. It also reflects the ambitious vision of the University Medical City to achieve medical leadership regionally and globally, through investments in advanced technologies and the empowerment of national talent.
BBC News
06-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Headlines: Birnbeck Pier, cannabis arrests, wheelchair 'attack'
Here's our weekly roundup of stories from across local websites in the West of have a daily round up as well. Make sure you look out for it on the website and the local section of the BBC News app. What have been the big stories in the West this week? Swindon Advertiser reported on a 14-year-old child with disabilities who was pulled from his wheelchair by a student and then kicked and punched in the head. His mother said she was "heartbroken" after the incident at Commonweal School. A spokesperson for the school said they were taking the incident "very seriously".A six-year-old boy from Burnham-on-Sea was said to be "cured" of epileptic seizures by pioneering neurosurgery, according to ITV West Country. Since having brain surgery at Bristol Children's Hospital six months ago, Finley hasn't had "a single seizure". A video of the moment three men were arrested for running a same-day cannabis delivery service was a top post for Bristol Live. The RNLI's decision to pull out of Birnbeck Pier restoration project has been a strong talking point this week, with significant negative reaction to the rare Roman cavalry swords found near Chipping Camden - which led to the discovery of a settlement - was popular for Stroud News. According to Historic England the new evidence "will help us understand more about what happened around the period of the Roman conquest, which must have been a tumultuous time". Top five local stories for the BBC in the West Something longer to read Bristol 24/7 has taken an in-depth look at the difficulties experienced by people affected by brain injury. Feature writer, Hannah Massoudi, talked to the Barton Hill based charity, Headway, which has been supporting survivors of brain injuries for more than 40 years. She spoke to Lindsay Forbes, whose partner Colin suffered a brain injury 19 years ago as a result of an unmotivated Forbes first approached Headway as she said there was "very little information about what to expect during the recovery process".She says "one of the biggest reasons that those living with brain injuries are misunderstood is because many of the effects of brain injury are invisible and often stigmatised". Explore more with our daily roundups
