After an unexpected seizure, Patty put her trust in our skull base surgery team

On December 10, 2023, Patty Ableiter, a 62-year-old Wyoming, MN resident, was winding down for the evening with some television when, out of nowhere, she had a seizure. The Ableiter’s dog alerted Patty’s husband, Matt, who called 911. Patty was taken by ambulance to M Health Fairview Lakes Medical Center, where scans revealed a mass in her brain.

Doctors determined Patty had a meningioma on the anterior side of the skull base. The tumor was not in the brain itself, but instead in the lining between the brain and the skull. As it grew, it created pressure on Patty’s brain. This caused swelling and irritation in the brain, which led to Patty’s seizure. The emergency team at M Health Fairview Lakes Medical Center quickly referred Patty to neurosurgeon and minimally invasive surgery specialist Andrew Venteicher, MD, PhD, and the team at the Center for Skull Base and Pituitary Surgery at M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center. Venteicher is also an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School.

Center unites multidisciplinary experts for seamless care

The center brings together a multidisciplinary group of fellowship-trained experts in ophthalmology, endocrinology, neurosurgery, otolaryngology (ENT), and other medical fields. These specialists work together to determine the cause of symptoms and the right approach to treatment. There are a variety of potential techniques available, from open surgery to various minimally invasive options as well as radiation and chemotherapy, when appropriate. For example, neurosurgeons and ENT surgeons can perform collaborative surgery, working together to remove tumors in sensitive areas. Other options include trans-nasal approaches, in which surgeons resect tumors by going through the nose, without any external incisions.

Which choice is best for an individual patient depends on the type of tumor, its placement, which essential structures are nearby (from the spinal cord to areas responsible for hearing, taste, smell, and sight), the patient’s overall heath, and a host of other factors. That’s why the center’s team holds weekly skull base multidisciplinary tumor boards, giving the team an opportunity to consider individual cases from multiple angles and work together to find a solution. The center also features a program coordinator and advanced practice providers who help patients navigate their treatment seamlessly.

After surgery, home in time for New Year’s Eve

“When patients come in, we begin with a detailed history and careful examination as well as a discussion with the individual. Based on that information, we begin to develop a strategy for management and formulate our recommendations for that specific patient,” said Venteicher, who directs the center. “In Patty’s case, her meningioma was located just behind the nose and below the frontal lobe, right where the olfactory (sense of smell) area is.”

Fortunately for Patty, her sense of smell was intact. To protect it, the team recommended a traditional, open approach. Venteicher performed the craniotomy at M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center on December 29, resecting the tumor while protecting Patty’s smelling fibers.

Patty stayed overnight in the neurosurgery ICU after her surgery, then transitioned to an inpatient unit, where she met with physical and occupational therapists to make sure she was ready to go home. “Dr. Venteicher did a wonderful job, and everyone at the medical center was so nice,” Patty said. “I was home in time for New Year’s Eve.”

Patty hasn’t had any recurrence of her seizures, and she is now back at work. Because her meningioma was benign and low grade, she doesn’t need any additional treatment. The center’s team will conduct yearly scans, but the risk of her tumor returning is low.

At the Center for Skull Base and Pituitary Surgery, patients get the best possible care from a broad range of disciplines, all working together. “All of our providers are fellowship trained and are focusing their entire practice on the skull base, brainstem, and the pituitary gland,” Venteicher said. “We have all dedicated our lives and practices to this 10-centimeter area, and we’re very passionate about it.”