Life-saving superglue brain surgery for toddler
Dangerous aneurysms can result, as well as seizures caused by too much liquid in the brain
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Friday, 21, Nov 2008 05:30
A toddler has undergone innovative brain surgery in which an organic superglue-like substance was inserted in blood vessels to correct improper blood flow.
Seventeen-month-old Ella-Grace Honeymoon was born with Vein of Galen Malformation, a very rare condition in which wrongly-connected blood vessels in the brain incorrectly guide blood flow to and from the organ.
Dangerous aneurysms can result, as well as seizures caused by too much liquid in the brain.
"When we first learnt about Ella-Graces condition, we were devastated. We were told she had a brain aneurysm that would kill her unless treated and we really thought we'd lose our baby girl," said Ella's mother.
The successful operation used the glue to seal some of the dysfunctional blood vessels, thereby relieving a great deal of the pressure that was causing her so much pain.
Though there are two centres in the UK that perform operations of this type, Ella-Grace's parents chose to turn to the facilities with the best success record in this specific surgery. They therefore first started the procedure in France, though the tragic and sudden death of their surgeon led the family to fly to a corresponding New York hospital to finish the process.
"The operation was a success and worth every penny. She's now doing what all kids her age should be doing – bouncing around, playing and having a good time," Mrs Honeymoon added.
Ella-Grace is likely to undergo another operation in the US next year, and the family is in the process of raising funds for the very expensive surgery.