'World first' op saves tot from vein condition

A THREE-YEAR-OLD with a rare and “untreatable” vein condition has been saved by surgery thought to be the first of its kind ever performed.

- By Storm Newton

Conor O'Rourke was born with vein of galen malformation which causes the veins and arteries in the brain to connect abnormally.

That leads to severe complications like heart failure, brain damage and death, if undetected.

And Conor is one of a rare group of VOGM patients whose veins get blocked off so normal ops do not work.

But after “high risk” open brain surgery at Liverpool's Alder Hey Children's Hospital, specialists say he is now “99% cured”.