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NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Imagine that for years you have been told that your runny nose was due to allergies. Then you discover that your brain is leaking.
Dr. Max Gomez, of CBS, said an astonishing surgery, performed by the patient's nose, repaired a man's potentially lethal leak.
"They said my brain was leaking … it was scary," said Gregory Phillpotts. "Who loses the liquid from their brain … I did not even know it was possible."
Not only is it possible, it has been happening for years at Phillpotts. Doctors in North Carolina had told him that the clear liquid coming out of one nostril was caused by allergies.
"Some talked about allergies, bronchitis and pneumonia."
When the leak really deteriorated for Thanksgiving, Phillpotts did some research and found Dr. Alfred Iloreta of Mount Sinai, who diagnosed the problem as a cerobrospinal fluid leak.
The leak may have been caused by head trauma several years ago.
"Cerebrospinal fluid bathes the brain and spinal cord, nourishes and protects the brain," said Dr. Iloreta.
The leak was a potential route for bacteria to enter the brain, leading to a life-threatening brain infection.
Iloreta proposed an innovative approach to repair the leak. He would go through Phillpotts' nose to the site of the flight; using special riflescopes and some kind of GPS navigation system.
"We used his own tissue as a graft to cover the hole from which the fluid was leaking," the doctor added.
Gregory's operation took place just nine days ago. He still has to go slowly for a while, but there is no escape.
"I feel like a million dollars," Phillpotts said.
According to Dr. Iloreta, brain leakage can sometimes be mistaken for allergies, but the fact that it is a nostril and all the antibiotics and antihistamines did not work would be reason enough to suspect a problem more serious.
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