A neurosurgical team at the National Referral Hospital successfully conducted its first-ever Moyamoya brain surgery in Thimphu today. Moyamoya is a rare disease caused by blocked arteries that reduces blood flow to the brain. The disease is often diagnosed in children of ten to 14 years old or in adults in their 40s. If left untreated, the disease can cause stroke, seizures, paralysis, and brain damage and can be fatal.
The surgery was performed on a 16-year-old patient from Thimphu who was diagnosed with Moyamoya syndrome last year through an MRI test. The surgery took about four hours.
During the surgery, surgeons harvest a blood vessel on the outside of the scalp and then connect it to the brain through a hole in the skull.
“Since one part of the brain doesn’t have a supply of blood from the major artery, the goal is to ensure that there is another supply of blood and oxygen from the other blood vessels,” said Dr Sonam Jamtsho, Neuro Surgeon at JDWNRH.
Moyamoya syndrome is caused by vascular diseases, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, anaemia and down syndrome among others.
“Usually, it happens when a patient is obese and has a higher level of fats in the blood vessels. As a result, it causes the thickening of plaque within the blood vessels which causes narrowing of the arteries. This leads to Moyamoya syndrome. Secondly, it can be from the skull-based fracture and trauma and thirdly from syndromes like Down syndrome,” added Dr Sonam Jamtsho.
The surgery costs around Nu 1 M if it is performed abroad. But no Bhutanese have been referred overseas for the surgery so far.
Currently, two people are suffering from Moyamoya syndrome in the country. And the team plans to perform their surgeries soon.
Kelzang Choden
Edited by Sonam Pem
