Brain surgeon uses handyman drill

UPI ^ | March 16, 2008

[kingattax]

LONDON, March 16 (UPI) -- A renowned British neurosurgeon reportedly has been performing surgeries using a common cordless power drill at a clinic in Ukraine.

Dr. Henry Marsh, a senior consultant at St. George's hospital in south London, has used a Bosch 9.6 volt battery-operated drill to open up the skulls of his patients to remove life-threatening tumors while doing charity work in the Eastern European nation, The Sunday Times of London reported.

Marsh, 58, travels to Ukraine twice a year to perform free operations at a clinic run by a fellow surgeon.

"It's exactly the drill that you could have in your garden shed," Marsh said of the drill, noting the clinic cannot afford state of the art surgical equipment.

The newspaper reported the procedures are performed using local anesthesia with the patients fully awake, a surgical technique no longer widely used. He said Ukrainians could withstand such a practice because they were "very tough."

[kingattax]

[mikrofon]

And he claims to never have Bosched a job...

[Made In The USA]

Points deducted for not using a DeWalt.

[scory]

If the thing is clean (no sepsis)and gets the job done without complications then who cares?

[ClearCase_guy]

free operations at a clinic

It's a simple fact: When health care is "free" you have to make some trade-offs. Fancy equipment and general anaesthesia become unaffordable luxuries. Coming to America soon.

[Obadiah]

What was he supposed to use, a $50,000 “special” Bosch Surgical Drill? Odds are it's the same thing they use in routine surgeries. As long as the drill and the implement was properly sterilized there is no real problem.

[antiRepublicrat]

If it works, then what’s the problem?

[Digital Sniper]

Marsh, 58, travels to Ukraine twice a year to perform free operations at a clinic run by a fellow surgeon.

And they're complaining because he's using a conventional cordless drill? Oh come on!

[MarkeyD]

Seems like 9.6 V would be low for drilling through bone, needs higher torque.

[devane617]

If I’m sick and a cordless Bosch drill will help fix me...Bring it on.

[Digital Sniper]

If it works, then what’s the problem?

I don't think there's a problem at all. Somehow I doubt this guy keeps the drill and the bits in the same toolbox he reserves for puttering around the house.

[Bob J]

Ukraine must have universal cordless healthcare.

[Hot Tabasco]

My dentist uses the same drill..........

[Digital Sniper]

Seems like 9.6 V would be low for drilling through bone, needs higher torque.

Living "green" bone is easier to drill through than dry, dead bone.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

What kind of drill bit is best for brain surgery? Forstner, twist, spur point? Do you need to use a carbide tip? Every DIY brain surgeon needs the answers to these questions.

[domenad]

If you’re going to operate on MY brain, you better at least use a DeWalt. Only the best quality for me.

[exile]

Look it’s not like it’s rocket science. It’s just brain surgery.

[AnAmericanMother]

If it's the best tool for the job, and is properly sterilized, who the heck cares?

(Would have used a Makita myself, but . . . )

I know a very clever surgeon who used all sorts of "field expedients" when he was in the Navy. He was an excellent doctor and didn't have the God complex that way too many surgeons have. And he kept me amused telling me Navy stories and stories from his residency at our local major trauma/charity hospital while he was performing surgery on yours truly under local anesthesia (general makes me sick as a dog so I would rather gut through it awake. I'm not "very tough" either.)

This resourcefulness should be applauded!

[killermosquito]

Either they are very tough or more likely very drunk.

[NYFriend]

Seriously, sounds reasonable. A poor craftsman blames his tools. Drilling into bone is pretty barbaric anyway, but it's all there is. What's the difference what kind of drill he's using? It's probably a special bit.

What kind of drill to surgeons in the US and UK use, air drill?