Page 13 - Talk of Tequesta - May '24

The Talk Of Tequesta, Page 13

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Minor Head Injuries No Small Affair Rex Recommends

For Seniors Palm Beach Opera’s
By Rex Hearn

New Treatment For Leaky Blood Vessels In The Brain Norma which I heard
on April 7, had great
voices singing Bellini’s
Any knock to the head, be it from a car accident, slip It is now believed, music. Soprano Angela
on the pickleball court, or fall from a chair, is no small however, that chronic Meade, perhaps the
affair. Especially for older adults who experience head bleeding into the site of the l ea di ng, l i vi ng
trauma. They are at greater risk of an increasingly common hematoma may be instead interpreter of this
neurological condition caused by leaky blood vessels in caused by blood leaking most demanding 19th
the brain. from fragile arteries that century Bel Canto
Called a subdural hematoma, it occurs when a blow develop after the injury and role was in fine form.
to the head tears blood vessels between the brain and the initial blood clot formation. Moving from softer
skull. Blood then leaks, pools and clots in the space below “These new blood vessels passages to dramatic crescendos with absolute
the dura mater, the outer most layer of three protective feed the membrane that command, she kept the audience spellbound as
membranes surrounding the brain. forms around the clotted “Norma.” A last-minute substitute for the ailing
“Even minor head injuries in seniors can result in a blood,” says Obrzut. Michal Obrzut, M.D. Jessica Pratt, Meade did not disappoint as the High
hematoma because these bridging veins become stretched Innovative Treatment Priestess. Bellini became the premier exponent of
and are more fragile as the brain shrinks with age,” explains This new understanding has led to the development of Bel Canto, singing on the breath using the diaphragm
Michal Obrzut, M.D., a fellowship-trained endovascular an innovative endovascular treatment for chronic subdural to its maximum. Along with contemporaries
neurosurgeon with Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital. hematomas called middle meningeal artery (MMA) embolization. Verdi, Donizetti and Rossini they were the leading
A New Understanding “The middle meningeal artery is a large blood vessel composers of 19th century Romantic Italian operas.
Subdural hematomas occur in up to 25 percent of people that supplies oxygen-rich blood to the dura mater Writing just seven operas, Bellini died young at 34.
with head injuries, and individuals taking blood thinners surrounding the brain,” says Obrzut. “We use a long, But his close friendship with Rossini saw to it he
are at increased risk. flexible tube called a catheter to inject a small amount of would be remembered. He died in Paris in 1835,
Symptoms may include ongoing headache, confusion bioadhesive gel into branches of the artery that lead to the miles away from his beloved home, Catania in Sicily.
and drowsiness, nausea and vomiting, slurred speech and hematoma. This cuts off blood supply to the membrane Three of his operas remain in the repertory today: La
changes in vision. If the bleeding occurs slowly enough, surrounding the hematoma and prevents rebleeding.” Sonambula, I Puritani and Norma.
the symptoms may not appear for weeks or months. As a The team at Weston Hospital has successfully treated Conductor Carlo Montenaro kept the 85-member
result, an older person may not even recall how their head more than 100 patients with this minimally invasive pit orchestra nicely nuanced and light. A work of this
injury happened. approach. “In addition to being an effective treatment, nature does not need such massive forces, 36 players
“Large subdural hematomas are usually treated with patients enjoy a faster recovery and a lower risk of would be sufficient. Director Keturah Stickann
decompression surgery, which involves drilling a small hole complications,” adds Obrzut. moved people around expertly, I counted at least 50
in the skull and draining the blood, but this has a high risk of To schedule an appointment with Dr. Obrzut or another supernumeraries on stage. Their comings and goings
recurrence,” explains Dr. Obrzut. “The approach is based on neurology specialist at Cleveland Clinic in Florida, call were seamless drills worthy of a guards regiment.
the long-held theory that a chronic subdural hematoma is the (877) 463-2010 or visit ClevelandClinicFlorida.org/Neuro Chorus Master Gregory Ritchey trained his
result of continued bleeding from the ruptured veins.” to learn more. members so well they delivered some brilliant work.
Intelligent in their approach, often key and central to
the action around them. Bravo chorus.
Ashley Dixon’s “Adalgisa” was superb, her soaring
soprano equal to that of Meade’s “Norma.” Dixon
is surely one to watch, the next Renee Fleming, one
would guess. Tenor Paolo Fanale, making his debut,
was a fine “Pollione.” Nicolas Teste, bass baritone,
was a brilliant “Oroveso” in a commanding and
memorable performance. He kept the action lively
and sang with ringing steely tones; we will hear more
of him, I hope. Maria Vasilevskaya’s “Clothilde”
was very good and Devin Eatmon’s “Flavio” was
perfection. Alas the English supertitles were dated
and needed revision. Hair and wig design by Anika
Seitu needed no improvement.
Ali Pohanka’s makeup designs were also good.
John Conklin’s set designs were desultory. Lighting
design by Mary Shabatura was adequate. A full house
treated the artists to a standing ovation at the end. The
2025 season includes Romeo & Juliet, La Traviata
and The Marriage of Figaro. Support the arts!

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