In the New Kingdom of Ancient Egypt , after the death of a Pharaoh of Egypt , embalmer would bump off the brainpower matter of their ex - ruler via the nozzle . Now , we ’ve improve on both enumeration : surgeons can go in through a keyhole surgical incision by the eye socket , remove a brain tumour , and the patient does n’t just survive but is much dear off for it

“ I was amazed by the recovery , ” Ruvimbo Kaviya – a 40 - year - old womanhood from the UK who , in February last year , became the first person in the country to undergo endoscopic trans - orbital operating theatre to remove a tumour – said in astatement . “ I was only in the hospital for two days , with no side effect or swelling . I feel utterly fine now . ”

After months of increasingly intense cephalalgia , eventually developing into cramp - like sensations she initially thought were due to odontalgia , in 2023 , Kaviya was eventually diagnose with meningioma – a eccentric of neoplasm that develop in the protective layers of the genius known as the meninx . An MRI revealed it was located in thecavernous fistula – a empty space found behind the eye socket , through which the jugular nervure carries blood away from the psyche .

That would , in times past , be a problem . The erectile fistula is hard to get at , and “ regard jolly inoperable ” , per the NHS statement . But Kaviya ’s diagnosis came at a uncaused point , as in recent years , operating surgeon have been experimenting with less - invasive procedures to dispatch such tumors – which would previously have require major dent , the remotion of parts of the skull , and foresightful recovery time .

“ This technique allows us to remove tumors without opening the skull or having to retract or contract the brain , ” explained Asim Sheikh , Consultant Skullbase and Neurovascular Neurosurgeon at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust , and a appendage of the team who carried out the procedure – all necessary pace in traditional method to reach the cavernous sinus .

But the new techniqueavoids the brainalmost entirely , “ significantly reduc[ing ] trauma ” and “ enable patient to recover faster with minimal visible scarring , ” Sheikh said . surgeon instead accessed the tumor via a flyspeck prick next to Kaviya ’s eyelid – leaving just a 1.5 - centimeter ( 0.6 -nch ) scar .

A 3D model , courtesy of the Trust ’s 3D Planning Service , help the procedure succeed – a applied science that Jiten Parmar , Consultant in Maxillofacial Surgery at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust , trace as “ a game changer ” . It allowed the squad to do drill runs of the surgery , perform step on a life - size example of Kaviya ’s mentality and skull to perfect their proficiency before the big daytime .

“ When the operative squad approached me , we used CAT scan of Ruvimbo ’s brain and skull to make a 3D replica model , ” explain Lisa Ferrie , the Trust ’s Biomedical Engineer and 3D Planning Service Lead .

“ This engineering activate the squad to study her chassis in detail and prepare for the procedure with unparalleled truth , ” Ferrie say . “ Seeing the modeling and knowing it contributed to this groundbreaking ceremony operating theater is unbelievably rewarding . ”

For Kaviya , though , being the first in the UK to undergo the process was never the main goal . “ It was the first time they were doing the subprogram , ” she isreportedto have said , but “ I did n’t even think about [ that ] . ”

“ I had no option but to check because the annoyance was just too much , ” she said . “ All I want was for it to be murder . ”