By Redha Sardar (with photos)
KUWAIT, Aug 13 (KUNA) -- Kuwaiti neurosurgeon Dr. Hisham Al-Khayat succeeded in removing a large cervical spinal canal tumor of a 43-year-old nurse, making this the first-ever such procedure to be carried out at a private hospital in the country.
"The patient was suffering severe neck pain and dizziness," Al-Khayat told KUNA on Wednesday, and noted that this was the first time such an operation was conducted at a private hospital, that being Dar Al-Shifa.
The surgeon added that the patient was diagnosed with cervical spinal canal meningioma, a benign tumor that compresses against the spinal cord as it grows and can lead to paralysis or even death.
Al-Khayat mentioned that several neurosurgeons refused to operate on the patient because of high risks involved. The patient had sought consultation from doctors in Kuwait, Egypt, and Gulf states.
However, the tumor was completely removed without any neurological damage.
Al-Khayat is the first Kuwaiti neurosurgeon and received his PhD from the US. He had a number of published research papers and was a specialist at Texas University and in Saudi Arabia, before setting up the first neurology department in the Kuwaiti private sector.
Copyright Kuwait News Agency 2008.
