Russian surgeons perform world’s first skull base surgery on 101-year-old patient

A Russian medical team has successfully performed the world’s first skull base surgery of its kind on a 101-year-old patient at Samara State Medical University Hospital.

Olesya Nabrezhnyeva, head of the hospital’s ear, nose, and throat department, explained that the surgery was necessary due to the patient’s sphenoid sinusitis. She noted that, despite the patient’s advanced age, his condition required surgical intervention.

Nabrezhnyeva added that the patient was kept under medical observation for a week following the operation and was discharged after his condition improved.

Rethinking age limits

The department head stated that while the hospital routinely performs such procedures, this was the first time it had been done on a patient of such advanced age.

She also noted that the success of the operation could prompt a reassessment of age restrictions for certain surgical interventions, particularly as medical technology advances and new indicators support the likelihood of successful outcomes.