Mornington Peninsula residents to access world-class brain surgery close to home
Safety Beach man Arthur Nixon was devastated to be diagnosed with two brain tumours. But – in a Victorian first – his surgeon used revolutionary technology to successfully remove the 79-year-old’s cancer.
South East
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A new world-class clinic has become the first in Victoria to use cranial neuro-navigation equipment during an operation.
The GPS-based device allows a surgeon to accurately map the brain and the real-time intra-operative guidance increases accuracy and safety.
The newest generation of neuro imaging equipment is installed at a clinic in Ramsay Health Care’s Peninsula Private Hospital Frankston.
Leading neurosurgeon and Assoc. Prof. Jin Tee said the technology would be used the clinic’s main procedures including the treatment of traumatic bleeds, hydrocephalus, metastatic and primary brain tumours and spinal tumours.
Because of the new clinic at the hospital, neurosurgery patients throughout the Mornington Peninsula will no longer have to travel to Melbourne’s CBD for treatment.
The clinic’s inaugural patient, 79-year-old grandfather Arthur Nixon, had two tumours successfully removed in the clinic’s first operation after he suddenly and inexplicably lost his ability to speak on May 10.
The ex-jeweller and Safety Beach resident of 65 years showed no typical symptoms of a brain tumour such as headaches, nausea or blurred vision.
“I knew in my mind what I wanted to say but I couldn’t get the words out,” Mr Nixon told the Leader.
“I was avoiding questions (from my family) and wouldn’t speak to them to avoid inconvenience on Mother’s Day … but I knew something was wrong.”
Mr Nixon, who managed melanomas over the past 15 years with regular skin checks, was quickly admitted to the hospital after consultation with his GP at Dromana.
Assoc. Prof. Tee and his specialist team located and removed two tumours in Mr Nixon’s brain over two separate operations.
“They ran some tests and then I was in for the surgery,” Mr Nixon said.
“It shakes you up when you find out (the diagnosis) but I had to push through it.”
Assoc. Prof. Jin Tee said the latest cranial neuro-navigation equipment from 7D Surgical will improve outcomes for patients.
He also said doctors would be able to conduct valuable testing on elderly residents with dementia like symptoms which could be the result of a brain bleed.
“This particular age group is expected to increase significantly in coming years (so) the Mornington Peninsula’s older demographic makes this new clinic very important,” he said.
Peninsula Private’s neurosurgeons will work closely with other doctors at the hospital including oncology experts, general physicians, geriatricians and emergency specialists
to treat patients as young as 18 years, with the majority of patients expected to be aged from 45 to 75.
The new service comes after the hospital launched a major revamp earlier this year which has seen the total bed count grow close to 350 along with 18 day-oncology chairs, 11 intensive care unit beds, eight operating theatres and an emergency department.
“In the past patients requiring neurosurgery were required to travel to the city for tests and surgery,” Assoc. Prof. Jin said.
“Now they can stay close to home which is a huge benefit for the patients and their families at a stressful time.”
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Mr Nixon is still recovering from his surgery and is set to undergo a radiology course as he prepares to get back to spending time with his four beloved grandchildren and wife Jan.
“From the surgeons to the facility and even the food at Peninsula Private Hospital … I had no problems whatsoever — I even had the surgeon’s team checking in on me as late as 11pm,” he said.
“The nurses were great … everything to me was perfect.”