It is one of the extraordinary methods in operations related to the brain, the most complex and mysterious organ of our life. awake brain surgery in other words awake craniotomyis one of the issues attracting attention in the medical world. So what is the purpose of waking the patient at the most crucial point of the surgery?

Close to functionally important parts of the brain remove tumors This revolutionary procedure aimed to protect the brain tissues that allow us to speak and move. Moreover, testing these functions during an operation is possible a bold step It is accepted as.

How exactly awake brain surgery is done Why is it preferred? We investigated curious issues such as whether the patient feels pain during the operation. Let’s see if this brain surgery is as scary as we think.

Awake brain surgery has become one of the most commonly used methods due to the development of technology.

In the past, patients underwent brain surgery anesthesia He was put to sleep. Because the patient’s pain had to be controlled throughout the operation. However, with the advancement of technology and new generation painkillers With its development, awake brain surgery became possible.

Awake brain surgery is first performed under local anesthesia. epilepsy surgery It took place before. In addition to the developments mentioned above, the spread of this technique to neuro-oncology, the development of patient monitoring equipment and intraoperative functional mapping With the improvement of technology, this method has become one of the methods that doctors often use.

In what cases is awake brain surgery recommended?

When you think about brain surgery, don’t think about all types of it. There are some special cases in which awake brain surgery is preferable. In these situations, the brain It depends on where the tumor is located. As a tumor; If it is close to the parts of the brain that control arms, legs and speech, the surgeon considers this procedure necessary and recommends it to the patient.

The primary goal of awake brain surgery is, of course remove tumor tissue and reduce the chance of growth. Furthermore, the main reason why the patient is awake is because the patient is performing surgery in areas close to healthy tissue. No loss of function.

So how do they do this brain surgery?

Brain surgery consists of three phases. These phases; opening the scalp and skull expose the brain, operating on the brain, which covers the scalp and skull. These three phases actually determine the time the patient is awake. Patient before moving on to the second phase First it is awakened and the processes in the brain begin.

of the tumor; due to its proximity to areas that provide vision, speech and motion control. brain mapping is being done. When removing the tumor, critical areas are avoided thanks to mapping. This method, which is used to map the nerves, is used during surgery. immediate feedback It is considered the only way to get it.

Before the tumor tissue is removed, vital parts of the brain are removed by a small surgeon is stimulated with an electrode. Meanwhile, the neuroanesthesiologist will perform some tests to see if stimulation affects functions. moving fingers, count, suddenly name an object or speak the word is being sought. If the patient does not respond to this, it becomes clear that the stimulated area is connected to a critical area.

In some awake brain surgeries, the patient is not only asked to move his or her fingers or speak.

patients Including the extraordinary situations he experienced during the operation Let’s continue with the operation.

When talking about awake brain surgery, the first thing that comes to mind is the patient playing the violin during the operation.

In addition to the violin, there are also patients who play the saxophone and guitar.

Everyone’s passion is different. The image of the patient packing stuffed olives during brain surgery comes from Italy.

After watching the videos, the question comes to mind: “Is the patient in no pain?” The question may be a little formed, but let’s give a scientific explanation.

During awake brain surgery, the patient can: feels no pain. Because there is no damage to the brain tissue There are no pain receptors. Because only the scalp is completely numb pressure or vibration can be felt.

Do patients experience any discomfort during the operation?

Of course, it is impossible to say ‘never’ to this question. First of all, surgery is performed and some interventions are performed on the patient’s brain. However, as we said, there is no sensation of pain. In addition, one of the most common complaints from patients is the need to receive general anesthesia. starving comes. thirsty patients Moist foams or ice cubes are given for this purpose.

Although holding the head with a clamp does not cause pain to the patient, it can be painful, especially during long operations. pain in the forehead can cause. However, this situation is generally resolved with local anesthesia. In operations where patients must be placed on their side, shoulder pain starting. If the pain becomes unbearable, it may be possible to put the patient back to sleep.

Nurses provide support to relieve conditions such as itching. In addition, there is the patient’s desire to exercise coughing or yawning If necessary, he will be told that he must inform the doctor in advance. In this way, the surgeon takes the necessary precautions at that time and eliminates the problems caused by movements.

At the end of all these processes, the patient is put back to sleep and the final stage of the operation is started. The scalp is stitched. After the surgery is completed, the patient will recover. waking.

Is there no risk?

Whatever the surgery, every surgery carries some risks. This also applies to awake brain surgery. visual impairment, seizures, difficulty learning and speaking, amnesia, Vertigo, paralysis, too much fluid in the brain, swelling of the brain, meningitis, Spinal fluid leakage and weak muscles are among the risks of surgery.

It is performed to protect important areas of the brain. awake brain surgery We have investigated it in detail. We hope that no one has to undergo this operation. If there are any patients who have undergone this operation, we are very welcome to share their experiences.