Pioneering brain surgery technique in place at KEM

MUMBAI, February 22: A brave new brain surgery has been introduced at KEM Hospital, whereby patients can be operated upon by making a single hole in the skull and be discharged in a single day.

Dr Mohnish Bhatjiwale, a neurosurgeon with the hospital, said this unique procedure has been made possible due to a machine called the Neurosurgical Stereotactic System which was donated to the hospital by a charitable trust. The machine first precisely locates the site of the disorder and then reaches the point and treats it, he said. The machine can reportedly reach tumour sizes of 1-2 mm with total accuracy. The new machine also makes it possible to locate a lesion by making a small entry point of 5 mm so that there is minimal distrubance to other areas of the brain, pointed out Bhatjiwale, claiming that the technique can be used to treat about 70-80 percent of neurosurgical disorders in some form or the other.

While the treatment can cost upto Rs 50,000 in a private hospital, it is free in KEM Hospital, and thepatient has to pay only for the CT scan, added Dr Bhatjiwale.