First-ever surgery in the UK successfully removes previously deemed inoperable tumor
Ruvimbo Kaviya had a tumour beneath her brain.
Medics have performed a UK-first operation to remove a type of head cancer using keyhole surgery through a patient’s eye socket.
Mother-of-three Ruvimbo Kaviya had a meningioma removed from the space located beneath the brain and behind the eyes.
Many of these types of tumours would have previously been considered inoperable because of their location in an area called the cavernous sinus.
But now surgeons from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust managed to remove one of these tumours using keyhole surgery through Kaviya’s eye socket, the first surgery of its kind in the UK.
Experts at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust practised the surgery multiple times, first using 3D models of Kaviya’s head and then in a cadaver lab.
The surgery, known as an endoscopic trans-orbital approach, took just three hours and Kaviya, a nurse in Leeds, was up and walking about later the same day.
She has been left with a tiny scar near her left eye.
Surgeons have now performed similar surgeries, giving hope to UK patients whose cancers were previously seen as inoperable.
Neurosurgeon Asim Sheikh stated, “There’s been a move towards minimally invasive techniques over the last few years or so, with the advancement of technology, tools, 3D innovation, it is now possible to do the procedures with less morbidity, and that means the patients recover quicker and better.”
He explained that the traditional methods required pressing on a significant portion of the brain, leading to potential complications like seizures.
Jiten Parmar, a maxillofacial surgeon, devised a technique where a small part of the outside wall of the eye socket was cut to allow more access for the endoscope.
Lisa Ferrie, a biomedical engineer, made a 3D model of the patient’s skull so the surgical team could rehearse the operation beforehand.
James Robins, a fellow in neurosurgery, described the surgery process using minimally invasive techniques and the use of endoscopes.
Kaviya underwent the groundbreaking surgery in February 2024, recovering and returning to work after three months.
She shared her experience during the recovery period, expressing gratitude for the successful surgery and emphasizing the importance of taking risks for a chance at a better outcome.
