Brain Stem Surgery: Dr.

Eka Julianta Wahjoepramono

Composed by: Graecia Bungaran 07120080008

Faculty of Medicine University of Pelita Harapan Class of 2008

10/9/08 Article Summary: Si Pengobok Batang Otak The human brain is an essential part for human life. The control of most organs as said in this article is in the brain, mainly in the brain stem. Dr. Eka Julianti Wahjoepramono in this article is mentioned to be the expert in the operating of the human brain stem. The 49 year old doctor is said to be the first Indonesian doctor to done a surgery on the brain stem of the human brain in Indonesia. This no man land region has finally been reached by Dr. Eka and he says that from this success more other unreachable parts of the human body can be reached. With 13 success operation and not one failure, Dr. Eka is proven to be competent in his field. His first patient whom he operated in 2001 was a 22 year old sailor named Ardiansyah who suffered form brain tumor in the brain stem. Dr. Eka with his other five peers decided to operate Ardiansyah remembering to consult with Ardiansyahs family aout the risk of the operation. Dr. Ekas team succeeded in getting rid of the small stoned sized tumor in Ardiansyahs brain stem. Now Ardiansyah has gain back his normal life and recovered from the operation. Anther patient Dr. Eka handles has is a famous businessman who has gone around the world to try to operate the tumor in his brain stem. The businessman finally decided to come back to Dr. Eka to undertake the operation, and the operation turns ut to be a success. The brain stem is a very fragile part of the human brain, it is always referred to as the no man land in the medical world. A slight mistake in operating the brain stem is very fatal, the patient can die or be disabled their whole life, says Dr. Eka. For this particular reason a lot of factors are being considered and being told to the patients family who is undergoing the brain stem surgery. The chance for success is very small, but with Dr. Eka, the small chance is turned into a huge success. The brain stem gains control of the whole oragn system (makes it function right). The brain stem is the center for breathing control, eye movement, tongue movement, facial muscle movement and many other parts of the body. The success he made in operating the tumor from the brain stem has brought Dr. Eka a lot of unforgettable experience. In 2007 Dr. Eka was invited

as a guest lecturer by the Harvard Medical School and University of Arkansas Medical Science. For Dr. Eka the achievement he made is a symbol of the improving health service standards in Indonesia. One interesting fact is that Dr. Eka try not to accept patients who have went to Singapore for treatment, This I do so that Indonesia is does not become the backup plan for patients who fail to do the rbain stem operation in Singapore. says Dr. Eka thinks the bar has to be set up high and he believes that the health care standards in Indonesia will soon rise.

10/9/08 Article Summary: Penyembuhan Hingga Batang Otak The end part of the brain (brain stem) is a very important organ in the functioning of the human body. The small part of that brain called the brain stem is what connects the brain to the back spine (nervous system). Only as big as a thumb, the brain stem gains control over the majority of the bodys organ system, like breathing, hearing and conciousness. The brain stem also consist of neurons that controls the motor sensors like the moving of the tongue and the change in facial expression. The importance of the brain stem gives its name in the medical world, the brain dead. Dr. Eka Julianti

Wahjoepramono is the expert in operating the brain stem of the human brain where in most cases the operation involves the taking of a tumor growing in the brain stem. The growth of a tumor in the brain stem can cause very disturbing symptoms like trouble in swallowing, uncontrolled eye motion and cramp. Operating the brain tumor is very dangerous with a lot at stake, a slight mistake done during the operation can cause the person to die or have a nonfunctioning organ. Brain tumor is one of the main factors that hinders the brain stem to perform its task, says Dr. Eka. The presence of a tumor in the end of the brain creates pressure to the neurons in the brain. Unlike other disease brain tumor in the brain stem can appear without any cause. It grows in a coincidence and not triggered by a certain food or from genetics. The tumor appears and grows slowly in the brain, this is why the tumor can be detected only from seeing disturbance in the neurons system like when a person becomes paralyze. According to DR. Eka, people who have brain tumor can be paralyze because of the pressure the tumor gives in the end brain which hinders the brain liquid to past by, thus creating a pile of brain fluid. Other than tumor the brain stem can also not function properly because of Tuberculosis; cause by the germs that enters the organ and destroys the blood vessels. So far the operation of the brain stem done by Dr. Eka proves to be quite successful. According to Dr. Eka the operation of the brain tumor in the brain stem can reduce the damage in the brain. Patients that are

paralyze may not walk again, but atleast the chance of having more damage is reduced, as for example from a 80 percent paralyze, after operation it is reduced to a 40 percent chance of paralyze. The tools needed for the undertaking a brain stem operation is quite expensive, around 3 billion rupiah for one microscope. Patients who undergo the operation can be charged around 30 to 40 million rupiah, excluding other hospital charges (like room). Dr. Eka is said to be the first Brain surgeon in Indonesia that successfully undertake the first brain stem operation.