Sidra Medicine performs the country’s first two paediatric epilepsy surgeries

Qatar has, in recent times, been making tremendous progress in the health and education fields.  

Sidra Medicine, a multi-speciality hospital which opened its doors recently, has been making a tremendous impact in a short time.

It recently performed two major neurosurgeries, on young epilepsy patients, within ten days. It was another first in a series of historic medical milestones achieved by the hospital in Qatar, reported Gulf Times.

The first of two surgeries were performed on a two-year-old girl at Sidra Medicine’s new neurosurgery intra-operative MRI theatre suite (IMRIS).

Sidra Medicine is one of the few women and children’s hospitals in the region to have a dedicated paediatric IMRIS suite as well as several paediatric sub-specialities including neurology, craniofacial and plastic surgery, urology and cardiology.

Alaa had medically intractable epilepsy resulting in uncontrollable seizures several times a day, thereby increasing the risk of injuring herself.

Her condition was not responsive to epilepsy medication and other non-invasive treatment options. Patients with intractable epilepsy face the possibility of sudden unexplained death if they have seizures while sleeping.

Alaa’s pre-surgery consultation included diagnostic imaging with nuclear medicine and radiology to identify the abnormal tissue on the right side of her brain that was causing the epileptic seizures, according to The Peninsula. 

A team of 21 medical and surgical professionals, led by Division Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery Dr Ian Pople and Neurosurgeon Dr Khalid Al Kharazi, conducted the surgery for several hours.

“Alaa’s surgery was highly complex as it also included electrical monitoring, to ensure that we didn’t stray into areas of the brain that were related to mobility. After the abnormal tissue was removed, we scanned her brain immediately with the MRI suite to ensure that no residual abnormal tissue was left,” Dr Ian Pople was quoted as saying by Qatar Tribune.

Alaa’s mother said: 

“We’re grateful that our child had an opportunity to have this life-saving surgery in Qatar. We were initially anxious about her having to undergo major surgery at such a young age. However, we also realised that the longer we delayed it, the higher the risks. We sought a second opinion from Europe and were assured we were in good hands,” said Alaa’s mother.

The second neurosurgery case involved a 12-year-old girl who had been suffering from epilepsy for many years due to a benign tumour in the front of her brain.

With multiple seizures a day, she was at constant risk of injury. The patient’s surgery, also conducted by Dr Pople and Dr Al Kharazi, involved the removal of the tumour and surrounding abnormal tissue.

Since the operation, the patient has already seen her seizures reduced and is now on a medication programme to help manage her condition. Her seizures are expected to stop completely eventually.

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Picture credit: The Peninsula