Doctors Perform Awake Brain Surgery On Student At Navi Mumbai Hospital
A 22-year-old MBA student from New Panvel successfully underwent a complex awake brain surgery at NewEra Hospital in Navi Mumbai on May 6 to remove a large brain tumor located near her brain's motor control area. The procedure, known as an awake craniotomy, was performed following a sudden seizure on May 3, successfully removing the tumor while fully preserving the patient's neurological and motor functions.
The patient, identified by the hospital as Shruti Iyer (name changed), had been suffering from persistent right-sided headaches for nearly two months before experiencing the seizure. She was subsequently admitted to NewEra Hospital, where MRI scans revealed a large tumor in the right frontal region of her brain, adjacent to the motor strip which controls body movement.
Because of the tumor's size and critical location, medical professionals decided to perform an urgent right fronto-parietal awake craniotomy. During the operation, surgeons utilized advanced neuronavigation technology and awakened the patient at key stages, asking her to move her limbs to ensure vital motor pathways remained undamaged.
Dr. Sunil Kutty, Consultant Neurosurgeon at NewEra Hospital, explained that the tumor's proximity to the motor strip carried a significant risk of permanent paralysis. He stated that performing an awake craniotomy enabled the surgical team to continuously monitor her neurological functions while accurately removing the tumor.
According to Dr. Pankaj Chaudhary, Consultant Anaesthetist, the procedure relied on a specialized "Asleep-Awake-Asleep" anesthesia technique. Under this method, the patient is temporarily awakened during the surgery to respond to commands before being safely returned to general anesthesia.
Following the operation, the patient underwent physiotherapy and rehabilitation. Doctors reported that she was able to walk independently and retained full muscle strength in all four limbs starting from her first postoperative day. She was discharged from the hospital on May 9.
Iyer, who has since recovered well, shared that she initially feared the diagnosis would disrupt her academic career but was ultimately able to appear for her MBA examinations. Doctors advised that persistent headaches, seizures, recurrent vomiting, or concentration changes should not be ignored, especially in young adults, as they can indicate serious neurological conditions.
