Restored through rhinology: Oscar's story
Each evening for the past 18 years, Oscar Chavez ended his day with martial arts, a passion that helped him decompress after long, demanding workdays. As a father balancing the joyful chaos of family life, martial arts became his one-hour escape to clear his mind. His dedication earned him a black belt three years ago, and more recently, he began teaching younger students at his gym.
One day, after completing his usual stretches and training exercises, Oscar noticed a sudden and significant drop in his energy levels. Concerned by the change, he scheduled a check-up with his primary care physician, who referred him to an endocrinologist to further evaluate his hormone levels. Blood tests revealed abnormalities, prompting an MRI. Within an hour and a half, imaging revealed a mass.
A follow-up CT scan at Southdale Hospital confirmed the finding, and a fairly large mass, measuring 88mm by 44mm, roughly the size of a smart watch. Given the complexity of the case, the medical team determined that the mass required specialized care and referred Oscar to Andrew Venteicher, MD, PhD, in the Department of Neurosurgery. Dr. Venteicher determined that the tumor was not cancerous, but noted its close proximity to the nose. He recommended consultation with rhinologist Neal Godse, MD, for a biopsy and further evaluation. After careful examination, both physicians recommended skull base surgery to remove the mass.
“Everything was happening so fast,” Oscar recalled. Fortunately, his wife, Emily, was by his side every step of the way. “Dr. Godse and Dr. Venteicher helped ease my anxieties; they were extremely thorough in their explanations, listened to each concern I had, and made sure that I left each appointment reassured and in good spirits. Leading up to the surgery, I was nervous about how my insurance would cover a procedure like this, but one of the wonderful nurses stayed on a call with me for three hours until the issue was resolved, which helped alleviate so much stress. After my surgery, my nurse, Kathryn, took exceptional care of me and helped tremendously during my recovery.”
“Dr. Venteicher and I removed the tumor using a minimally invasive combination approach through the nose, mouth, and orbit,” said Neal Godse, MD. “There isn’t a specific name for this procedure, but it could be considered a multi-portal endoscopic endonasal and transorbital approach for tumor resection. Because portions of the brain were exposed, we had to develop a new way to seal that space. As a result, we designed a new reconstructive flap, which is currently in the process of getting submitted for publication,” said Neal Godse, MD.
Although the surgery was lengthy, it was successful, and Oscar was discharged after a three-day hospital stay. “Overall, I had a great experience with Dr. Godse and Dr. Venteicher, “ Oscar shared. “I am a very worrisome individual, and I tend to read into the worst-case scenarios online, but the expertise, professionalism, and compassion of the University of Minnesota team eased any of my fears. I am incredibly grateful for Dr. Godse & Dr. Venteicher. I hope my story shows that while surgery can be extremely scary, the team at the University of Minnesota makes the process feel safe and full of hope.”
Today, Oscar is recovering well and steadily regaining his strength, with hopes of returning to the gym and his martial arts studio soon. The experience has made him more mindful of his health; leading him to cut out fast food, prioritize sleep, stretch more, and live a more “easy-going” lifestyle.
