The word brain surgery is itself very powerful and can make any normal individual anxious and nervous like you. Awake Brain surgery is done when the tumor is present in those areas of your brain that are responsible for controlling the most basic abilities, such as reading or talking. Since this can be quite risky for the surgeon, they prioritize using awake mapping. This works as an integral part of awake brain surgery for brain tumors, thoroughly helping the surgeon to map out the specific area of the brain that is too sensitive and remove the brain tumor carefully, along with preserving basic neurological functioning.
This surgery can be done for both brain tumors and epilepsy/seizure conditions, with the aim of maintaining the normal functioning of the brain. Although specific imaging tests are also used to identify the exact location of a brain tumor, they do not always show the accurate position. Due to this, awake mapping is thoroughly done during awake brain surgery to map out the functional areas of the brain around the tumor.
In this blog post, you will get to know about a specific awake brain surgery brain tumor guide, which thoroughly includes its explanation, along with the crucial role played by awake mapping during this.
First, understand what awake brain surgery means!
- Another name for this procedure is awake craniotomy, in which you are kept awake while the surgeons are analyzing how you respond to certain questions.
- This surgical procedure is initiated with anaesthesia or sedation to ensure that you don’t feel any pain while ensuring that you are comfortable.
- Basically, the anesthesia is injected into the brain tissue and scalp, as the brain does not have pain receptors, thus causing no pain.
- With the small incisions over the scalp, your skull is analysed with the help of computer-guided navigation to find out the exact tumor location.
- You will be gradually woken up by the surgeon with the aim of ensuring that you are in a responsive state for further procedures.
- Mild electrical stimulation is used in specific parts of the brain while you are counting or reading as told by your surgeon.
- If you react to any of the electrical sensations, such as feeling a tingling sensation, then the surgeon gets an idea to avoid such a specific part of the brain, as it controls particular movement.
- By considering all such crucial points, the surgeon’s role is to carefully remove the tumor while not affecting the critical functioning areas.
What is the role of awake brain mapping in awake brain surgery?
Undergoing awake brain surgery for brain tumor resection or other neurological conditions, awake brain mapping plays an integral role, which is mentioned in the following points:-
Identifying real-time functioning abilities
During awake brain surgery, an electrical current via a probe is applied over a specific part of the brain and with your response, the surgeons learn about the function of that specific area. Therefore, they avoid that very area during the entire surgery to prevent any complications.
Includes patient’s interaction
The surgical team interacts with you while ensuring you perform different tasks such as reading, counting numbers or making movements, which can help your team thoroughly analyze specific functional defects.
Marking boundaries for safe resection
Awake brain surgery includes the removal of brain tumors; thus, brain mapping helps thoroughly analyse the sensitive parts of the brain with the aim of protecting them while the tumors are removed carefully by the surgeon.
Reduces complications risks
Due to the identification of the functional areas of the brain and removing the tumor carefully by protecting those areas, the risk of complications gets reduced. Different risks such as post-operative paralysis and cognitive decline get reduced.
Here are some myths about awake brain surgery!
Myth: Almost all the brain surgeries are performed while the patient is awake!
Fact: Awake brain surgery is one of the surgeries that is performed while the patient is awake; however, other brain surgeries are performed under full anesthesia.
Myth: The patient is awake all the time during awake brain surgery!
Fact: The patient is injected with anesthesia in the initial process, when the incision is made; however, during the specific time when the surgeon needs to remove the tumor while ensuring the functional abilities remain preserved, the patient is awake.
Myth: The ones who are young and extremely fit are eligible for undergoing awake brain surgery!
Fact: The eligibility for awake brain surgery depends on the exact location of the tumor in the brain instead of age or any specific gender.
Myth: Awake brain surgery is painful!
Fact: Awake brain surgery is done under anesthesia to prevent sharp pain during the skull incision; however, when it comes to the brain, it has no pain receptors, causing no pain to the patient.
The Bottom Line!
Summing up the above-mentioned points, you might have understood what awake brain surgery means and how awake mapping is crucial during this surgery. This surgical procedure thoroughly helps in identifying the tumor location, while awake mapping helps in analysing the functional areas. With such a comprehensive approach, the tumor would be removed carefully, while the functional abilities are protected from any damage.
Make sure to discuss all the possible risks and benefits of awake brain surgery and ask about specific awake brain surgery brain tumor questions from your surgeon. This can help you get enough information about this surgical process, which is a must before undergoing it. Discuss all the possible outcomes after awake brain surgery for brain tumor in Ludhiana, as this can help you in making the right decisions.
Meet the experts at Dr. Jhawar Neuro Hospital, utilising different treatment approaches for targeting neurological conditions. Our expert is well-qualified and has been actively serving as a neurosurgeon here, Dr. Sukhdeep Singh Jhawar
