By Pete McIntyre / KISS FM Vernon

Vernon man benefits from revolutionary new brain surgery technique

Dec 8, 2017 | 9:27 AM

VERNON, B.C. — A Vernon man has successfully taken part in a revolutionary new type of brain surgery that doesn’t involve breaking the skin or cutting into the skull.

85 year old Elias Pharaon underwent a high intensity focused ultrasound treatment on his brain, to deal with a severe form of an essential tremor.

Dr. Zelma Kiss is one of the team members at the University of Calgary.

“We are able to see the brain with real-time imaging and target a beam of high intensity ultrasound to the region responsible for tremor,” says Dr. Zelma Kiss, neurosurgeon and professor in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM). “The patient is awake the whole time and the results are immediate.”

The procedure was performed at Foothills Medical Centre in association with the Hotchkiss Brain Institute.

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“Elias is disabled by the tremor, and that’s why he was referred for the treatment,” says Kiss.

Pharaon wasn’t able to sign his name before the surgery due to shaking, but he says since he had it, his tremor is gone.

“I couldn’t believe the tremor in my right hand was gone. I didn’t feel anything during the procedure. I was so happy. It’s changed my life.  I feel like I can go out in public again.”

Dr. Bruce Pike says the procedure allows surgeons to access the brain without cutting into the skin, and could be used for other purposes.

“So there is some things that we begin with immediately such as essential tremor in terms of treating which patients will benefit from immediately, and then to start investigating other potential treatments.”

Pharaon volunteered to undergo the procedure and participate in the research project.

To view a video explaining the procedure, click here.