New technology to help in brain tumour surgery

A hospital is upgrading its brain surgery unit with a £100,000 investment in new technology for neurosurgeons to perform more accurate operations.

Hull Royal Infirmary said the money would be spent on digital software, called Elements, which would help to reduce the risk of damage to other parts of the brain during procedures.

It will be used on patients with brain tumours and aneurysms.

Chittoor Rajaraman, a consultant neurosurgeon at the hospital, said: "For the first time in Hull, we will be able to use this technology to offer patients safer surgery, with better outcomes."

"Hull is keeping pace with developments in neurosurgery so, although we are a smaller unit compared to other parts of the country, our patients are receiving the best possible treatment delivered by the latest technological advances," he said.

The hospital treats around 80 people a year with cancerous brain tumours called Glioblastoma (GB).

Although incurable, surgery to remove the tumour can improve patients quality of life.

However, this type of brain surgery carries high risk of damage to important parts of the brain such as those used to control movements, speech or vision because of their proximity to the tumour, the hospital has said.

The software allows more precise surgery planning and can use ultrasound scans during the operation to check the progress of the procedure.

"We can request ultrasound scans within a minute or two and then carry on, without the need to stop surgery for a patient to have an MRI," said Mr Rajaraman.

"It is much better for the patient, achieving better outcomes and a greater quality of life for as long as possible."

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