Batangas Hospital Expands Access to Minimally Invasive Brain Surgery

For patients with serious neurological conditions, distance can become another obstacle to receiving timely treatment. In the Philippines, where neurosurgeons remain concentrated in limited areas, expanding specialized services outside major medical centers could make an important difference for patients and their families.

Mary Mediatrix Medical Center in Batangas has strengthened its neurosurgical capabilities after successfully performing its first minimally invasive neuroendoscopic procedure on an adult patient with hydrocephalus. The hospital identifies the case as the first procedure of its kind performed by a private hospital in Batangas.

The milestone comes as the country continues to face a shortage and uneven distribution of neurosurgical specialists. A 2024 study counted only 174 practicing neurosurgeons nationwide, with 35 provinces having none. The Academy of Filipino Neurosurgeons’ latest 2026 tally places the estimated number at 185, showing gradual growth but also underscoring the continuing need to bring specialized care closer to underserved communities.

The patient at Mary Mediatrix was a middle-aged woman diagnosed with hydrocephalus caused by a tumor in the brain’s third ventricle. The obstruction prevented the normal circulation of cerebrospinal fluid, creating potentially dangerous pressure inside the skull.

Neurosurgeon Dr. Asis Jr. Encarnacion used neuroendoscopy to access the affected area through a smaller surgical pathway. Imaging identified the tumor as a non-malignant craniopharyngioma. Because completely removing the deeply located tumor presented significant risks, the medical team instead obtained an endoscopic biopsy and addressed the fluid buildup through an endoscopically assisted ventriculoperitoneal shunt with septostomy.

“Neuroendoscopy allows us to see structures deep inside the brain through a much smaller surgical pathway,” Encarnacion said, explaining that the technique can minimize disturbance to normal brain tissue while allowing surgeons to reach critical areas.

The procedure represents another stage in Mary Mediatrix’s development of neurological services, which date back to the 1990s. Investments in a neurosurgical microscope, endoscopic equipment, specialist training, and supporting hospital infrastructure have helped broaden the procedures that can now be undertaken locally.

Encarnacion emphasized that advanced neurosurgical care requires more than having a specialist available. Hospitals also need appropriate technology, instruments, trained personnel, and comprehensive care before and after surgery.

“The real significance of this milestone is not that we performed the first procedure,” Encarnacion said. “It is that we are building the capability to offer patients in Batangas more options for the treatment of serious neurological conditions.”

For patients who previously may have needed to travel outside Batangas for complex procedures, expanding local capabilities could mean earlier access to specialist assessment and treatment. As Mary Mediatrix continues investing in neurosurgical expertise and technology, the hospital hopes to help narrow the distance between patients and the advanced neurological care they need.