Surgical wonders and innovations

Here are the latest advances in surgery and implantation.

Doctors perform brain surgery via eyelid
A brain tumor usually requires a very invasive surgery, a procedure that entails opening the skull. However, recent innovations in medicine enable a minimally invasive procedure that could be comparable to a “keyhole” surgery of the brain. Doctors at the Johns Hopkins Hospital were able to remove a female patient’s tumor through a small incision in her eyelid.

According to the 47-year old female patient:

“When you tell people you had brain surgery, the first thing people always do is look for a scar, and that’s what’s amazing, there isn’t one. Anyone who needs to go through this should know it’s not that big of a deal even if it sounds like it is.”

First US surgery to compare NOTES vs. laparoscopy
NOTES stands for natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery and if you think laparoscopy is minimally invasive, NOTES is even several incisions less. Instead, it uses as point of entry natural orifices. In a groundbreaking clinical trial, researchers compare the use of laparoscopy vs. NOTES in gall bladder removal. As point of entry in the NOTES, the researchers used the mouth and on through the abdominal wall or through the vagina to access the gall bladder. The surgery needs only 2 small incisions that do not require suturing. According to study leader Dr. Santiago Horgan of the University of California at San Diego

“What is unique about this trial is that we will not only evaluate the safety and efficacy of NOTES compared to laparoscopy but will also assess and compare pain levels, cosmetic outcomes, operative costs and logistical outcomes.”

Eye telescope implant clears FDA hurdle
Ever thought of having a telescope in your eye? Apparently this procedure is now available, recently approved by the US FDA to treat patients with vision problems. Target patients are those suffering from end-stage age-related macular degeneration above the age of 60. The telescope replaces the natural lens of the eyes and provided images magnified by 2.2 to 2.7 times.

First full face transplant performed in Barcelona
It took 24 hours and 30 surgeons to accomplish the feat – implantation of new facial muscles, skin, nose, lips, jaw, teeth, palate and cheekbones. The operation took place in March but it was only recently that the young male patient braved the media to express his gratitude to the medical team who performed the surgery. Before the surgery, the patient could not breathe or swallow on his own.

Full Face Transplant Claimed by French Doctors
French doctors claim that theirs was the first “full” face transplant almost months after Spanish doctors claimed a similar feat. The operation was performed at the Henri Mondor hospital in the Paris suburb of Creteil last June 27. The operation not only involved full face transplant but also transplant of eyelids and tear ducts.