Rare brain surgery on newborn performed successfully at KGH

A complex neurosurgical procedure was successfully performed on a newborn baby girl at King George Hospital (KGH), Visakhapatnam, after she was diagnosed with a rare congenital condition.

The baby, born on July 31 to Vandalam Srinivasa and Satyavati of G. Kotturu village in G. Madugula mandal, Alluri Sitarama Raju district, was referred to KGH by doctors at Gemili Primary Health Centre when they noticed a large lump on the back of her head. An MRI scan later confirmed that she was suffering from a giant agranulocyte meningoencephalocele.

On September 6, a neurosurgery team led by Dr. M. Prem Jit Ray, Head of the Department of Neurosurgery, performed the high-risk surgery. The team successfully removed the protruding part of the brain and reconstructed the head. Dr. Ray said the operation was conducted with the support of the anaesthesia department and termed the outcome “100 percent successful.”

Explaining the condition, Dr. Ray noted that it can occur at birth due to genetic or other reasons. Such cases are extremely rare, affecting about one in 10,000 births, and are often fatal either immediately after delivery or during surgery.

Hospital authorities said the baby recovered well after the procedure but cautioned that she might experience developmental milestone delays and hydrocephalus in the future. The parents were advised to bring the child for regular monthly check-ups at the Neurosurgery OPD.

KGH Superintendent Dr. I. Vani, Deputy Superintendent Dr. D. Radhakrishnan, CSR MO Dr. U. Srihari, and Nursing Superintendent C.H. Padmavati congratulated Dr. Ray and the medical team for the successful surgery.