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December 14, 2006

R.I. neurosurgeon talks about senator's brain bleed

PROVIDENCE -- The chief of neurosurgery at Rhode Island Hospital says he's treated hundreds of patients for the same type of brain hemorrhage affecting U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson, the Democrat from South Dakota in critical condition today following overnight brain surgery.

"It can be devastating or you can recover from it," said Dr. John A. Duncan this afternoon of the condition known as an intracerebral bleed caused by a congenital arteriovenous malformation, or AVM. "[Johnson] could end up doing quite well, and that’s more my experience."

Duncan said that roughly 50 percent of those who experience bleeding in their brain as a result of an AVM fully recover; 20 percent die and the other 30 percent experience serious neurological injuries consistent with stroke victims, such as loss of speech or motor functions.

The severity of AVMs are ranked on a 6-point scale, Duncan said, with the severity largely determined by the size and location of the brain bleed. Because Johnson's doctors have not released the severity of his AVM, Duncan couldn't comment specifically on the 59-year-old senator's prognosis.

Johnson became disoriented during a conference call with reporters last night. He was rushed to the hospital and underwent brain surgery later that night.

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

Duncan said he's dealt with hundreds of AVM patients and that Rhode Island Hospital deals with several each month. The vast majority of patients were unaware that they were living with the condition because generally there are no symptoms.

Once a hemorrhage occurs, Duncan said, there are two treatment options: surgery or radiation therapy.

"The fact that they had to operate last night, to me, is an ominous sign," he said, noting that he prefers to wait to operate on AVM patients.

But Duncan acknowledged it's very difficult to gauge Johnson's condition without more information.

"I wouldn’t jump the gun and say this is a devastating condition," he said. "Fifty percent of patients do pretty well."

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:11 PM | Permalink

December 14, 2006

R.I. neurosurgeon talks about senator's brain bleed

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