Fortis Noida Doctors successfully operate 27-Year-Old Man for Brain Tumour while he was awake during the surgery

Fortis Noida Doctors successfully operate 27-Year-Old Man  for Brain Tumour while he was awake during the surgery

-The challenging procedure was conducted in 3 hours-

Noida, 21st Jan 2025: Doctors at Fortis Hospital Noida have successfully performed an awake brain surgery on a 27-year-old man suffering from brain tumour. This significant life-saving neurosurgery was conducted by a team of doctors led by Dr Rahul Gupta, Senior Director & HOD – Neurosurgery, Fortis Hospital, Noida. The procedure was done in 3 hours, and the patient was discharged in a stable condition in 3 days.

The man was admitted to the hospital with a history of recurrent seizures for the last 6 months. Upon admission at Fortis, a CT scan and MRI of the brain were done, which detected brain tumour on the right side of the brain. As the patient is left-handed, his right side of the brain was dominant, and the tumour was also found in the right side of the brain (found in less than 10% of the population). The tumour was located in the speech area of the brain and it also involved areas controlling left sided limb movement. There was a high risk of limb weakness, and speech arrest after the surgery. Hence, with the help of modern anaesthesia technique, the team of doctors performed an awake craniotomy or an awake brain surgery and removed the  tumour measuring 4*5 cms

Giving details of the case, Dr Rahul Gupta, Senior Director & HOD – Neurosurgery, Fortis Hospital, Noida said, “Awake craniotomy is a specialized surgical technique, in which the patient remains awake and responsive during the operation, allowing for real-time monitoring of critical brain functions such as language and motor skills. We performed this surgery on the patient as we could speak and communicate to the patient during the surgery, so as to monitor his speech and limb function. We also used modern gadgets like operating microscopes, neuro-navigation, and neuro-monitoring to make the surgery safer. The result was no limb weakness and minimum speech problems. It was a non-cancerous tumour and the patient is now living a normal life. This case highlights that modern equipment, special anesthesia technique, and good surgical expertise can treat brain tumour with high-risk success rate.”

“Awake brain craniotomy is a rare neurosurgical technique that is available at very few medical centers in India. This type of craniotomy allows a surgeon to remove a brain tumor while the patient is awake, to avoid brain damage. The patient is given a scalp block: An injection to block pain and local anesthesia to numb the scalp. The technique needs expertise, proficiency and special infrastructure. The procedure involves intraoperative neuro mapping. While operating, we asked the patient to talk as during speaking, particular areas in the brain were stimulated to check for speech arrest. This helped us identify the crucial speech area. In such cases, the surgical team needs to be extremely prepared for all types of complications. Clinical proficiency is, therefore, crucial. Moreover, the role of the anesthesiologist is also very significant,” Dr. Varun Jain, Additional Director, Neuro Anaesthesia, Fortis Hospital, Noida added.

Mohit Singh, Zonal Director, Fortis Hospital, Noida said, “This was a critical and challenging procedure to perform an awake surgery. However, the expert team of doctors led by Dr Rahul Gupta meticulously handled the case and executed the surgery with great precision and care. This landmark achievement sets a precedent for future cases involving awake craniotomies. With continued teamwork and innovative approaches, the prospects for treating complex brain tumours in patients are advancing rapidly. Such cases require correct diagnostic approach and management strategies, and Fortis Hospital Noida is well-equipped to manage such challenging cases.”