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Brain surgeon uses handyman drill
UPI ^
| March 16, 2008
Posted on 03/20/2008 9:40:59 AM PDT by 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."
TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: brainsurgery
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1
posted on
03/20/2008 9:40:59 AM PDT
by
kingattax
To: kingattax
And he claims to never have Bosched a job...
2
posted on
03/20/2008 9:43:16 AM PDT
by
mikrofon
(Like, it's not rocket science...)
To: kingattax
Points deducted for not using a DeWalt.
3
posted on
03/20/2008 9:43:51 AM PDT
by
Made In The USA
(Bacon is infidelicious)
To: kingattax
If the thing is clean (no sepsis)and gets the job done without complications then who cares?
4
posted on
03/20/2008 9:43:51 AM PDT
by
scory
To: kingattax
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.
To: kingattax
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.
6
posted on
03/20/2008 9:44:19 AM PDT
by
Obadiah
To: kingattax
If it works, then what’s the problem?
To: kingattax
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!
8
posted on
03/20/2008 9:44:26 AM PDT
by
Digital Sniper
(Hello, "Undocumented Immigrant." I'm an "Undocumented Border Patrol Agent.")
To: kingattax
Seems like 9.6 V would be low for drilling through bone, needs higher torque.
9
posted on
03/20/2008 9:44:35 AM PDT
by
MarkeyD
(Just another country bumpkin looking forward to Fred!)
To: kingattax
If I’m sick and a cordless Bosch drill will help fix me...Bring it on.
10
posted on
03/20/2008 9:44:57 AM PDT
by
devane617
(Find friends, ditch enemies !)
To: antiRepublicrat
If it works, then whats 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.
11
posted on
03/20/2008 9:45:23 AM PDT
by
Digital Sniper
(Hello, "Undocumented Immigrant." I'm an "Undocumented Border Patrol Agent.")
To: kingattax
Ukraine must have universal cordless healthcare.
12
posted on
03/20/2008 9:45:32 AM PDT
by
Bob J
("For every 1000 hacking at the branches of evil, one is striking at it's root.")
To: kingattax
My dentist uses the same drill..........
13
posted on
03/20/2008 9:46:22 AM PDT
by
Hot Tabasco
(Monkey spanking is cruel......)
To: MarkeyD
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.
14
posted on
03/20/2008 9:46:39 AM PDT
by
Digital Sniper
(Hello, "Undocumented Immigrant." I'm an "Undocumented Border Patrol Agent.")
To: kingattax
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.
To: kingattax
If you’re going to operate on MY brain, you better at least use a DeWalt. Only the best quality for me.
16
posted on
03/20/2008 9:47:55 AM PDT
by
domenad
(In all things, in all ways, at all times, let honor guide me.)
To: kingattax
Look it’s not like it’s rocket science. It’s just brain surgery.
17
posted on
03/20/2008 9:47:56 AM PDT
by
exile
("Get off my phone, ya big dope"- The Great One)
To: kingattax
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!
18
posted on
03/20/2008 9:48:19 AM PDT
by
AnAmericanMother
((Ministrix of Ye Chase, TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment)))
To: kingattax
Either they are very tough or more likely very drunk.
19
posted on
03/20/2008 9:48:22 AM PDT
by
killermosquito
(Buffalo (and eventually France) is what you get when liberalism runs its course.)
To: kingattax
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?
20
posted on
03/20/2008 9:49:17 AM PDT
by
NYFriend
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