SURGICAL FEAT

Hokitika Guardian, 15 February 1933, Page 8

SURGICAL FEAT

TUMOUR REMOVED FROM DRAIN OPERATION IN LONDON. LONDON, February 9. Working all day a team of five doctors a»d surgeons, including a famous eye specialist, recently successfully performed at /the London Hospital one of the most delicate operations ever attempted. The patient, a school teacher, was admitted tu thtl hospital with a tumor:.' at a particularly imaccessible part of the brain, lie wag going blind, and it was feared• that eventually the tumour would have spread to other parts of the brain. As the result of this marvellous operation the tumour was removed and the patient’s sight restored. A hospital official stated: “The operation is a result of a- new technique and the great progress which has been made in brain surgery. Prior to the discovery of this technique, to have attemped to operate on the man’s brain would have probably ended fatally. It was one of the most complicated operations, needing the constant attention or a team of five doctors, and frightfully expensive. Practically the whole working day was - taken over the operation, entailing great patience.

“The operation started in the morning, and by means of diathermic current the tissues of the? brain were completely broken through to get to the tumour. The great danger was haemorrhage—a. trouble which prevented advance in brain surgery years ago and great care was taken to prevent this.

“Py the new technique the diathermic current gradually went tthrough tlie cells, breaking them, but healing tiiem again, as it passed on its way to the base of the trouble. Defoi'e the operation started the patient’s blood had been tested and cast in one of four groups, so that, in the event of a transfusion becoming necessary, somebody in the same blood group was at hand to give blood.”