Awake brain surgery
About this test
Awake brain surgery, also called awake craniotomy, is a type of procedure performed on the brain while you are awake and alert. Awake brain surgery is used to treat some brain (neurological) conditions, including some brain tumors or epileptic seizures. If your tumor or the area of your brain where your seizures occur (epileptic focus) is near the parts of your brain that control vision, movement or speech, you may need to be awake during surgery. Your surgeon may ask you questions and monitor the activity in your brain as you respond.
Why it's done
If a tumor or section of your brain that causes seizures needs surgical removal, doctors must be sure that they are not damaging an area of the brain that affects your language, speech and motor skills. It's difficult to pinpoint those areas exactly before surgery. Awake brain surgery allows the surgeon to know exactly which areas of your brain control those functions and avoid them.
Risks and complications
Some of the risks of awake brain surgery include: Changes in your vision Seizures Difficulty with speech or learning Loss of memory Impaired coordination and balance Stroke Swelling of the brain or too much fluid in the brain Meningitis Leaking spinal fluid Weak muscles
Understanding your results
If you had awake brain surgery to manage epilepsy, you generally should see improvements in your seizures after surgery. Some people are seizure-free, while others experience fewer seizures than before the surgery. Occasionally, some people have no change in the frequency of their seizures. If you had awake brain surgery to remove a tumor, your neurosurgeon generally should have been able to remove most of the tumor. You may still need other treatments, such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy, to help destroy remaining parts of the tumor.
Disclaimer: August is a health information platform and its responses don't constitute medical advise. Always consult with a licenced medical professional near you before making any changes.