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The patients: 'Probiotic therapy'

Published: Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012 - 12:00 am | Page 16A
Last Modified: Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012 - 2:47 pm

PATIENT 1

56-year-old man admitted to hospital Oct. 14, 2010.

Illness: 10-month history of brain cancer. Treated previously with surgery, radiation and chemotherapy at another hospital in January 2010. New tumor detected March 2010; sought consultation with Dr. J. Paul Muizelaar.

Treatment: Consented to "probiotic therapy" operation Oct. 15, 2010. Part of tumor removed and live bowel bacteria implanted into skull and brain.

Federal findings of surgery outcome: "Post-operatively Patient 1 experienced life-threatening complications including septic shock (low blood pressure resulting from bacteria in the blood which affects critical organ function) and functional decline due in part to brain abscess formation (an enclosed collection of liquefied tissue, pus) somewhere in the body, and died 11/23/10. Glioblastoma and brain abscess were listed among his causes of death."

PATIENT 2

56-year-old woman admitted to hospital Nov. 18, 2010.

Illness: Diagnosed with brain tumor May 2010. Consented to surgery by Muizelaar, followed by radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Tumor later recurred.

Treatment: Consented to "probiotic therapy" operation Nov. 19, 2010.

Outcome: "She experienced worsening of her abilities to move and speak and required nursing home placement on 12/16/10. In the following months, increased pressure within the brain and chronic drainage from the surgery's resulting wound infection required additional surgical procedures.

"She died 11/28/11 with brain cancer and chronic brain infection among her causes of death."

(UC Davis contends surgery was a success: "Patient 2's life was prolonged as a result of the innovative care.")

PATIENT 3

61-year-old woman admitted to hospital Feb. 28, 2011.

Illness: Newly diagnosed with brain tumor.

Treatment: Consented to "probiotic therapy" operation March 3, 2011.

Outcome: "Patient 3 experienced life-threatening defects related to the bacteria implantation, including brain infection, increased pressure with- in the brain, and sepsis (severe body response to bacteria or other germs, producing shock) and died 3/17/11. Autopsy results showed multiple areas of pus over the brain, meningitis (infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord), encephalitis (irritation and swelling of the brain, most often due to infection) and compression of the brain into the base of the skull, along with brain cancer as among the causes of death."

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