Florida Woman’s Aneurysm Treated Through Eyelid in Cleveland Clinic’s Groundbreaking First
CLEVELAND, OH— Barbara O’Hara, a Florida resident who leads an active lifestyle, never imagined that the neck pain and severe migraines she endured would be signs of something more serious. After struggling for relief, O’Hara was referred to the Cleveland Clinic, where neurosurgeon Dr. Mauricio Mandel delivered unexpected news: she had a brain aneurysm.
An aneurysm, which Dr. Mandel describes as “a bubble in the artery of the brain,” can pose a significant health risk if it ruptures, potentially leading to a life-threatening stroke. This made surgery necessary for O’Hara. Traditional brain surgery typically requires a large incision along the hairline, often leading to a lengthy recovery and visible scarring. But O’Hara qualified for a cutting-edge procedure called transorbital surgery, a minimally invasive method where surgeons access the aneurysm through the eyelid.
“Most of the aneurysms that we found in the brain are really close to that area,” Dr. Mandel said. “So with a tiny incision over the eye, we do the same clipping that is done with open surgery, but in a much less invasive way.”
The Cleveland Clinic is one of only a few medical centers in the United States offering this highly specialized surgery. Using advanced 3D imaging technology, the team precisely maps the brain to ensure the procedure is as safe as possible. The minimally invasive nature of transorbital surgery allows for a quicker recovery time, with most patients, like O’Hara, able to go home the next day.
O’Hara was amazed at how quickly she recovered, especially after fearing the worst. “You’d never know I had surgery. There’s no scar,” she said. “To wake up and have no pain—I was amazed. I can get out in the sun and enjoy my life.”
This innovation at Cleveland Clinic is not limited to treating brain aneurysms. The transorbital technique is also being used to treat epilepsy and certain brain tumors, expanding options for patients who otherwise might face more invasive surgeries.
O’Hara’s story highlights both the importance of early detection and the groundbreaking approaches taken by Cleveland Clinic’s neurosurgeons to offer patients safer, less invasive alternatives.
Additional news coverage on this, from other local networks, can be found at the following sources:
Yahoo News, "New surgery method through eyelid to treat brain aneurysms," Available online.
Cleveland Clinic Newsroom, "Brain surgery through eyelid cures woman’s aneurysm," Available online.
WKYC, "Cleveland Clinic offers minimally invasive brain surgery for aneurysms through the eyelid," Available online.
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