A Look into the Future of Brain Surgery

The brain is what makes you, you. Subconsciously, it controls every part of the body, regulating its pulse

and ensuring everything works the way it should.

Without it, you wouldn’t live. It helps you

breath, think, digest, attack diseases, and move.

It is the most valuable organ in your body. It

also just happens to be an extremely delicate

part.

Simply losing blood flow for a few seconds

could blind you. Too hard of a bump could

throw you into a 20-year coma.

A nick in the wrong place with a surgeon’s knife

can change someone’s life forever. Considering its importance and the delicate nature of its existence,

doctors have a tough time working with it.

Brain surgery is an extremely delicate procedure that is difficult, because it’s invasive. Not only does the

skull have to be opened, but doctors have to cut out bad tissue while carefully avoid every millimeter of

healthy tissue.

The process usually takes hours and is extremely tiring. If any part of the surgery goes wrong, it can

leave a person alive, but never quite the same.

Innovation in the Industry

Any innovation to lessen the time and invasiveness of the surgery while increasing precision is therefore

industry changing. That’s why what the University of Miami did this past February can be seen as a look

into the future of brain surgery.

The future looks bright at this college. Thomas

Jambeck was diagnosed with a brain tumor back in

2011.

Over the past two years, treatments did nothing as

the tumor grew the size of a half-dollar. He was

subsequently sent to the care of Ricardo Komatar,

M.D. to perform a laser tumor ablation.

Ricardo made a small incision and inserted a 3-

millimeter laser probe into Jambeck’s brain.

Komatar used MRI technology to guide the probe

to the tumor.

Once there, the doctor was able to make incredibly precise cuts with radio-frequency energy. Within a

few minutes, Komatar removed the tumor without hurting healthy brain tissue.

The procedure took under an hour. Jambeck was then kept for an evening to ensure he was stable and

then was discharged without any problems.

Encouraging Results

He said he noticed an immediate improvement in his balance, which was previously severely impaired

by the tumor. He was fine to walk around a store on his way home from the hospital.

This new technology can prove revolutionary

for brain surgeries everywhere. A machine has

the ability to perform the precise movements

that human hands can mess up.

In an industry where the slip of the hand could

have permanent consequences on the

patient’s livelihood, advances like these are

truly revolutionary. Dr. Komatar was able to

give the world a look into the future of brain

surgery here.

The University of Miami receives grants every year from parties that are aware of this kind of

revolutionary work. They can always use more awareness to continue to make industry changing

innovations.

Support this university by word of mouth and University of Miami apparel. Although University of Miami

apparel might not scream “help change the world,” it can be a conversation starter to get them to that

point.

Photo Credit: EUSKALANATO, ReSurge International, Wally Gobetz