Neurosurgery
Our group of highly skilled neurosurgeons are dedicated to treating our brain tumor patients with the latest techniques available and utilizing the most cutting edge operating equipment. Meet our Neurosurgeons "Awake Craniotomy" Some tumors may be close to the part of the brain that controls motor or speech function. When this is the case, it may be necessary for the surgeon to do an awake craniotomy. This is an amazing procedure, which seems almost unbelievable at first thought. It is similar to a standard craniotomy, however the patient is fully awake during the middle of the procedure. In surgery, once the brain is accessible by the surgeon, the general anesthetic chemical level is dropped and the patient returns to consciousness, able to talk and move as normal, although head movement is of course restricted because of a head clamp. With the patient awake, a procedure known as functional mapping can be performed. Doctors use small electrodes to stimulate the brain tissue and nerves around the tumor. Why? It is done to reduce operative risk and maximize the volume of tumor which can be removed- by actually probing the area around the tumor, the eloquent regions nearby (speech, senses, movement) can be identified and then avoided. The patient is required to talk, count, recognize pictures and perform other basic tasks while this mapping takes place. There is no pain while being awake, local anesthetics make sure of this, and there are no pain receptors actually in the brain.