A medical discovery from the era of the pharaohs may contribute to saving thousands annually

A recent study found a surgery practiced by the ancient Egyptians, “Pharaohs”, which it believes could save thousands who suffer from brain injuries every year.
The surgical procedure, called “decompressive craniectomy”, is to make a hole in the skull to relieve swelling and pressure on the brain, in a procedure similar to the procedure used by the ancient Egyptians as a religious ritual, according to the British newspaper “Daily Mail”.
In the operation, a larger hole is made about 5 inches in the back of the skull, and part of the membrane surrounding the brain is removed, which reduces pressure immediately.
In a brain injury, fluid may collect inside the skull, causing pressure that can limit blood flow, and eventually brain cells begin to die, leading to memory loss, paralysis or even death.
The new study, published in the journal JAMA Neurology, found that patients who underwent anticholinergic surgery were one-fifth more likely to survive than those receiving standard treatment.
The study looked at 408 patients who underwent a “craniectomy” and found that they were 21 percent more likely to survive for two years than those treated with prescription drugs and drugs, and were more likely to achieve a good recovery.
Among those patients was Russell Ramblin, 42, who underwent a “craniectomy” in 2020 after a motorcycle accident, and has since fully recovered, and earlier this year the missing part of his skull was replaced with a plate. of titanium.
Consultant neurosurgeon at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge and lead author of the study, Professor Peter Hutchinson, says the surgery “can undoubtedly save lives”.