How to Prepare for Awake Brain Surgery
Receiving the diagnosis of a brain tumor is devastating news for anyone, regardless of age. Likewise, epilepsy can create a lifestyle of constant physical and emotional concerns. Technological advances have opened the door for sophisticated brain surgery that takes place while the patient is awake. The results can be beneficial in the treatment of tumors and epilepsy. Read on to learn how to prepare for awake brain surgery.
- Difficulty:
- Challenging
Instructions
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Prepare for extensive testing before settling on awake brain surgery as a course of action.
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Understand the reasoning behind staying awake. The patient must be awake during part of the procedure to interact with the neurosurgeon. High motivation and calmness are required in patients chosen for awake brain surgery.
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Expect to be sedated as the surgery begins. Numbing medications will be used to prevent you from feeling any pain.
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Prepare to have your head secured in a frame to prevent any movement during surgery. The operation is so precise that even the smallest movement could produce unwanted results.
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Expect to be awakened once your head is secured and your skull is opened. The neurosurgeon will stimulate your brain at specific locations around the tumor or in the abnormal area causing the epilepsy. You will be asked to respond verbally or with movement so the neurosurgeon can pinpoint the precise border of the diseased tissue.
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Anticipate that a three-dimensional computer image will be taken of your brain prior to and during the surgery. This will guide the neurosurgeon as he maps the diseased pathways in the brain.
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Prepare for a team of experts to be involved with awake brain surgery. This typically includes a neurosurgeon for surgery, a neuroanesthesiologist for anesthesia monitoring, a neurologist to assess your brain and body functions during surgery, a speech pathologist to assess verbal and reading performance and a computer engineer to provide images of your brain to the neurosurgeon.
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Tips & Warnings
This advanced neurosurgical procedure is used to treat patients with diseased tissue near the brain center, which controls language, body movements and vision.
The risks are high any time surgery is performed on the brain. One of the major risks for awake brain surgery is "crossing the border," which can cause permanent damage to the vision or vocal center. The risks, however, are less than with surgery under general anesthesia, because communication with the patient is critical for marking the boundary for removal.
