Kris Smith, MD, Phoenix AZ

Dr. Smith is a excellent doctor. So kind and explains things. I knew my daughter was in good hands when he did her brain surgery. She did well and recovering thanks to Dr. Smith!

Wanted to pass some feedback regarding gamma tiles, surgery at Barrows Pheonix and Dr Kris Smith.

My 48 year old Husband with butterfly GBM had his 2nd recurrence middle of January this year 20 months post diagnosis in the deeper areas of right frontal lobe near right basal ganglia. Nuero oncologists had given up hope for further treatment. Husbnad had already gone through SOC, Optune and immunotherapy keytruda with TKIs so not a candidate for trials. Husbnad started having swallowing issues and started losing some mobility on left side and hemiplegia (left side neglect). He was still speaking and communicating and right side functional.

Having exhausted all these options, we checked with barrows Dr Kris Smith for surgical options. Though disease was extensive, Dr Smith thought he may be able to do a salvage surgery for husband and did explain there was a small risk of stroke and other issues. Unfortunately, surgery lead to husbnad not waking up completely from surgery, complete left side dysfunction, hydrocephalus, unable to communicate, brain infection and a stroke. The days following surgery were nightmare and husbnad passed away a month following the recurrence surgery. Took barrows 3 weeks to figure out husband had an extensive brain infection which is unacceptable.

Point I am trying to make.for extensive disease progression, be very cautious when considering surgery with or without gamma tiles. Dr Kris Smith is kind and experienced and wanted to help my husband but likely went too aggressive with surgery.didn’t use ALA or functional mri during surgery, looking back, perhaps that could have avoided the aggressive resection and further complications.