HCG Doctors Treat ‘Suicide Disease’ Patient in Record Time
A team of doctors at the HCG Apex Cancer Centre in Mumbai successfully treated an 83-year-old patient suffering from Trigeminal Neuralgia, also known as ‘The Suicide Disease’ due to the chronic pain condition that affects the trigeminal or 5th cranial nerve, by performing a knifeless radio-surgery in 23.7 minutes — the shortest time recorded in India.
Trigeminal Neuralgia is a form of neuropathic pain which is associated with nerve injury or nerve lesion. It can be caused by blood vessel pressing on the trigeminal nerve or can also occur in people with multiple sclerosis. Injury to the trigeminal nerve (perhaps the result of sinus surgery, oral surgery, stroke, or facial trauma) may also produce neuropathic facial pain.
“Following his medical history and the treatments he had undergone in the span of 15 years, we decided to opt for Radiosurgery. Radiosurgery is surgery using radiation, i.e., destruction of the precisely selected areas of the tissues using ionising radiation rather than excision with blade,” said Dr Shankar Vangipuram, Head of Department, Radiation Oncology, HCG Apex Cancer Centre.
Dr Vangipuram and his team followed a knifeless non-invasive procedure (treatment with patient in senses) with sub-mm precision, which means there is no need for anaesthesia, no need for blood transfusions and no risk for any infections.
Conventionally, a condition like this can be treated using several platforms using X-Knife, Cyberknife, or Gamma knife that typically takes about 25-90 minutes to deliver the treatment. In a path-breaking achievement in treating Trigeminal Neuralgia, with the right mix of advanced FFF technology & Robotics Dr Vangipuram and his team successfully delivered thetreatment in just 23.7 minutes, which is recorded to be the shortest duration to treat a condition of TN.
“The patient is back to his routine life with no symptoms of recurrence or side effects and with medications totally stopped,” added Dr Vangipuram.
The doctors ruled out invasive surgery as an option for Ibrahim Khan, the patient, considering his age and the challenging medical history.
“At the age of 68, it was the worst pain I ever experienced which deteriorated from bad to worse which lasted from seconds to several minutes, with increase in recurrence. I underwent neurological treatments with side effects like vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, loss of balance, swollen tongue with passing days. Finally, unable to bear the persistent severe pain I approached HCG, where with the help of radio surgery and expertise of Dr Shankar, I was treated with no side effects. Today I am able to lead my routine life, performing the daily chores with ease.”
The pain of Trigeminal Neuralgia may range from a sudden, severe, and stabbing to a more constant, aching, burning sensation. The pain may affect a small area of the face or may spread. The attacks often worsen over time, with fewer and shorter pain-free periods before they recur. Eventually, the pain-free intervals disappear and medication to control the pain becomes less effective.
