Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

Endoscopic skull base surgery clinic opened

CHENNAI: An exclusive endoscopic skull base surgery clinic to perform interventions was inaugurated by Health Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam at the Government General Hospital on Monday.

He said the surgery would be available to the public free of cost.

He complimented the ENT department and the upgraded Institute of Otorhinolaryngology of the hospital on setting up such a clinic, the first in the government sector in the country.

He promised to consider a proposal to create a department for the specialty at a cost of Rs. 10 crore.

G. Sundhar Krishnan of the ENT department said the skull base is the portion upon which the lower surface of the brain rests and the management of diseases in this area has traditionally involved combined efforts by ENT surgeons, neurosurgeons and ophthalmologists because of the complexity of this part of the body.

Surgeons had to open up the skull, and this could create complications such as cerebral oedema and injury to vital structures.

This meant long operating hours, prolonged hospital stay and post-operative results that were not always optimal.

Dr. Krishnan said that with the nasal endoscope, ENT surgeons were well-versed in handling areas such as neurosurgery and ophthalmology, using the natural passages.

The benefits included shorter surgery period, minimum hospital stay, a clear and magnified view of the field without damage to vital structure.

Angled views afforded by the endoscope would ensure that the disease was completely cleared, he added.

A variety of diseases, including bleeding tumours of the nose and sinus, visual deterioration after accidents, increased brain pressure, birth deformities in the skull and even removal of foreign bodies in the walls of the eye socket, could be treated through this method.

Director of Medical Education S. Vinayagam called for spreading awareness of the treatment that would be provided free of cost.

He hoped the technology would be used in other parts of the State too.

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