Dr. Allan Friedman Calls Senator Kennedy's Surgery Successful

Dr. Allan Friedman who led the team of doctors conducting brain surgery on Senator Edward Kennedy at Duke University Medical Center, called the brain surgery "successful" as he was able to accomplish the "goal" The brain surgery of Senator Kennedy lasted about three hours.

Statement of Dr. Allan Friedman released by the Duke University Medical Center.

"I am pleased to report that Senator Kennedy's surgery was successful and accomplished our goals. Senator Kennedy was awake during the resection, and should therefore experience no permanent neurological effects from the surgery.

"The surgery lasted roughly three and a half hours and is just the first step in Senator Kennedy's treatment plan. After a brief recuperation, he will begin targeted radiation at Massachusetts General Hospital and chemotherapy treatment. I hope that everyone will join us in praying for Senator Kennedy to have an uneventful and robust recovery."

Dr. Allan Friedman is the Chief, Division of Neurosurgery in the Department of Surgery at the Duke University Medical Center and the Co-Director, Neuro-Oncology Program.

"At the present time, I am participating in collaborative research in the areas of primary malignant brain tumors, epilepsy and subarachnoid hemorrhage.

"Primary malignant brain tumors are increasing in frequency. Patients harboring glioblastoma, the most malignant primary brain tumor, have a life expectancy of less than one year. In colloboration with the Division of Neurology and the Department of Pathology, clinical and laboratory trials have been initiated to identify better treatment for this condition. At present, trials of monoclonal antibodies and novel chemotherapeutic agents are being carried out.

"Although physicians have been interested in seizures since the time of Hippocrates, the origin of seizures remains obscure. At Duke University we have treated approximately thirty seizure patients a year by removing abnormal portions of brain. Tissue from these resections is being analyzed for genetics and receptor abnormalities. Positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are being used to ferret out the origin of the patient's seizures.

"Approximately 28,000 patients each year suffer a ruptured intracranial aneurysm. Approximately ten percent of these patients have a genetic predisposition to forming intracranial aneurysms. In conjunction with the Division of Neurology, we are screening candidate genes searching for the cause of intracranial aneurysms."

Dr. Friedman was quoted from his page at the Duke University website.

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