Awake craniotomy: Lucknow doctors remove brain tumour while patient fiddles with mobile phone

LUCKNOW: Doctors at Kalyan Singh Cancer Institute in Chak Ganjaria on Wednesday successfully removed a brain tumour using Awake Craniotomy technique in which the patient remained awake and remained engaged in his mobile phone throughout the surgery. The technique was used to minimize the risk of nerve damage.

According to the doctors, Harishchandra Prajapati (56) from Lucknow, had been suffering from severe headaches and weakness in his left hand and leg. After being diagnosed with a brain tumour at a private hospital and warned about the risk of paralysis, Prajapati's family sought treatment at Kalyan Singh Cancer Institute.

During the operation, the patient, put only on local anaesthesia, remained conscious and actively participated in various tasks, such as using his mobile phone, holding a pen, and moving his legs. This approach allowed the surgical team to map the patient's brain using a nerve monitoring machine, ensuring the safe removal of the tumour while preserving the nerves controlling hand and leg function.

Dr Vijendra Kumar, head of the neurosurgery department, said, "We decided to operate on patients using Awake Craniotomy technique to minimise the risk of nerve damage.".

Dr Devashish Shukla, medical superintendent of the KSSSCIH, said, "Mapping of the brain had been done with a nerve monitoring machine."

The surgery was performed by a team of doctors, including Dr Vijendra Kumar, Dr Amit Upadhyay, Dr Vipin Sahu, and resident Dr Anjani Singh. The anaesthesia department, led by Dr Asim Rashid and assisted by Dr Ruchi Saxena and senior resident Dr Shruti, played a crucial role in the success of the operation.