Berhampur: The doctors have performed an awake brain surgery on a 71-year-old man successfully at the Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS) and SUM Hospital’s Sitalapalli campus in Berhampur.
Unlike traditional surgeries which required administration of general anesthesia to the patient, this procedure was performed while the patient was awake and responsive. The surgery involved creating two small burr holes of 2-2.5 cm in diameter in the frontal region of the skull. These holes allowed the surgeons to access and evacuate the accumulated blood and fluids which caused pressure in the brain.
Associate Prof Suryapratap Singh Tomar of IMS and SUM Hospital at Bhubaneswar, who performed the surgery, said it showed significant advancement in neuro and spine surgery and proved the incredible potential of awake brain surgery.
“By keeping the patient awake, we can achieve greater precision and safety leading to improved outcomes and ensure reduced recovery time. This technique is particularly beneficial for elderly patients and those with complex medical histories,” he said.
The advantages of such surgery included real-time monitoring of the patient’s neurological functions which reduced the risk of damage to critical brain areas, sidestepped the need for general anesthesia and ensured faster recovery, Prof Tomar said.
Deba Prasad Dash, Director of the hospital, said the success of the awake brain surgery underscored the growing importance of minimally invasive and patient centred approaches in modern neurosurgery.
