Egepol Hospitals Brain and Nerve Surgery Specialist Op. Dr. Seyhan Orak said that awake brain tumor surgery (Craniotomy) performed with local anesthesia and sedation protects important centers in the brain and increases treatment success.
Op. Dr. Orak, who noted that the patient is conscious and awake during brain tumor surgery performed with awake craniotomy, pointed out that the lesion can be removed more safely by making the patient talk or asking him to move his arms and legs.
Op. Dr. Seyhan Orak said, “Brain tumors are divided into two groups: benign and malignant. Benign tumors generally do not recur and definitive results are obtained in surgery. Malignant tumors, on the other hand, are tumors that are constantly recurring, which we can call cancer, produced by the brain. There are also tumors that metastasize (spread) from other organs. In the craniotomy method, surgeons can continuously control the patient's speech, movement and sensory functions in cases where the tumors are close to sensitive brain areas. If it is close to the patient's motor centers that control their arms and legs, we remove the tumor without causing any loss of strength. If it is close to the visual field, we continue the operation in a way that ensures that they do not lose their vision. The same process occurs in the speech center. In this way, we protect the patient's vital brain functions and ensure that the tumor is removed safely.”
BRAIN FUNCTIONS ARE PROTECTED
Op. Dr. Seyhan Orak provided the following information about the method: “Awake craniotomy is successfully applied in benign and malignant brain tumors, vascular lesions of the brain, and in the surgery of lesions located in specific areas of the brain. The awake craniotomy method is a surgical procedure with advantages. First of all, the patient does not receive general anesthesia; therefore, they do not have to go through an intensive care process. This method also accelerates the recovery period and return to social life. Secondly, and most importantly, we can complete the surgery without damaging these centers while removing lesions in specific areas of the patient. These centers can be the visual field, the motor center that provides speech or body movements. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, which is a light sleep called sedation. The experience of the anesthesia team is also a factor that facilitates surgical intervention. While the patient is under local anesthesia, if the lesion is close to the speech center, we make the patient talk, if the lesion is close to the motor center, we ask the patient to make arm and leg movements. In this way, we protect brain functions by controlling body functions. We complete the operation with minimum damage.”
HIGH SUCCESS RATE
Op. Dr. Seyhan Orak continued as follows: Brain tumor surgery can also be performed under general anesthesia. However, since the patient is not awake under general anesthesia, the physician may not be aware of any damage that may occur in the patient's brain. Our goal is to provide treatment without causing any loss of function and preserving the patient's quality of life. This method also increases the success rate. The operation takes 2-3 hours depending on the location and size of the lesion. In this case, the technological infrastructure of the hospital is as important as the experience of the anesthesia team and physician.”
