June brought two historic firsts to neurosurgery in Paraguay—both made possible through the collaboration of Solidarity Bridge and our dedicated partner doctors in the U.S. and Paraguay.

For the first time in the country, surgeons successfully performed:

A cerebral double bypass, a complex procedure that restores blood flow to the brain by rerouting it around blocked arteries, helping prevent strokes and brain damage.
A flexible endoscopic intraventricular surgery, a minimally invasive technique to treat conditions like hydrocephalus, which is caused by a buildup of fluid in the brain and can lead to developmental delays, neurological damage, or death if untreated.

Thanks to long-term training and mentorship through Solidarity Bridge’s Neurosurgery and Neurology Institute, local neurosurgeons now have the skills to treat patients with advanced procedures that were not previously available in the country. This means better care, fewer lifelong complications, and more lives saved.

A Lifesaving First: Paraguay’s First Cerebral Double Bypass

At the Hospital Nacional de Itauguá, a skilled medical team led by Dr. José Kuzli, Chief Neurosurgeon and Head of the Neurosurgery and Neurology Department, performed Paraguay’s first-ever functioning cerebral double bypass. This type of surgery is used to restore blood flow to the brain when major arteries are narrowed or blocked due to conditions like atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).

The procedure was performed on a 46-year-old patient whose brain was not receiving enough oxygen due to blocked arteries. By creating a new route for blood to flow around the blockage, the team helped prevent stroke and improve overall brain function. We're happy to report that the patient is recovering well!

Dr. Kuzli’s training in this advanced technique was supported by Solidarity Bridge, through a multi-year collaboration with Dr. Nirav J. Patel, a renowned vascular neurosurgeon from Harvard Medical School.

Expanding Care for Children: First Flexible Endoscopic Brain Surgeries

At the Niños de Acosta Ñu General Pediatric Hospital, doctors performed Paraguay’s first flexible endoscopic intraventricular surgeries to treat conditions affecting the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain, such as hydrocephalus. These procedures took place during Solidarity Bridge’s recent Medical Mission Trip to Paraguay in June.

In a true example of capacity-building, the first surgery was performed by Dr. Bermans Iskandar, a pediatric neurosurgeon from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who demonstrated the technique while training Dr. Diego Servían, a local Paraguayan neurosurgeon. Dr. Servían then completed a second surgery on his own, with Dr. Iskandar observing.

For patients with hydrocephalus, this approach using a flexible endoscope allows for a more precise, less invasive way to relieve pressure on the brain—often eliminating the need for a shunt entirely.

Why This Matters

These surgeries were made possible through Solidarity Bridge’s training and partnership model, allowing doctors in Paraguay to begin offering care that was previously unavailable in the country. And this ultimately means better care for patients, more lives saved, and disabilities prevented. By focusing on building local capacity in surgical care, we ensure the long-term impact of our work, even after a Mission Trip ends.

Two Firsts! Making History in Neurosurgery in Paraguay