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The 5,000th aneurysm Barrow neurosurgeon reaches milestone by Carmelle Malkovich
On Feb. 19, Robert Spetzler, MD, clipped his 5,000th aneurysm, believed to be the most of any neurosurgeon.
obert Spetzler, MD, the director of Barrow Neurological Institute, recently reached a milestone perhaps no other neurosurgeon can claim. Dr. Spetzler performed his 5,000th aneurysm procedure on Feb. 19—the most any neurosurgeon is believed to have ever performed. Dr. Spetzler reached this special milestone when he operated on Valley resident Eva Jen, 70. During Eva's procedure, Dr. Spetzler successfully clipped four cerebral aneurysms. Cerebral aneurysms are balloon-like dilatations along normal arteries that most often develop at the base of the brain. They begin as weak spots in the wall of a blood vessel in the brain and can gradually enlarge, creating a thinwalled, blood-filled balloon that can burst. Many aneurysms remain undetected and produce no signs or symptoms until they rupture. Only 50 percent of people who have a ruptured aneurysm live. Of those who survive, 50 percent will live a normal life. Dr. Spetzler is internationally recognized for his treatment of cerebrovascular disorders and has treated patients of all ages from throughout the world at Barrow. He was instrumental in the development of the cardiac standstill, a procedure in which the patient's body is chilled and heart and blood flow stopped during surgery so the neurosurgeon can operate on vessels in the brain without the risk of bleeding. â–
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Images from the 5,000th aneurysm: Preparing for surgery, under the microscope and three members of the team, Robert Spetzler, MD; Ricardo Hanel, MD; and Iman Feiz-Erfan, MD. B A R R O W
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