Neuro navigation guided craniotomy at Sri Shankara Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Bangalore.
In a village in Chikkamagalur district, a 65 year old farmer was suffering from frequent headaches, shooting pain in his left hand and left leg. Soon, he started losing sensation in his left limbs but he was too scared to go to a hospital during the COVID 19 pandemic, besides, he was worried about finding safe transportation during the lockdown. When the pain became unbearable, he told his family about the issue and his daughter urged him to see a doctor.
As soon as the lockdown ended, they travelled to Bangalore, where an MRI scan was done and it was revealed that he had a tumour in his brain, possibly arising from the lining tissue of the brain. The family was now very worried and then contacted their physician relative, who referred him to Dr. Praveen K S, Consultant Neurosurgeon at Sri Shankara Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Bangalore.
After a thorough evaluation, Dr. Praveen explained to the patient that the tumour would be carefully removed with the help of a sophisticated technology called Neuro Navigation.
In simple words, neuro-navigation is like a GPS for the brain. Using imaging scans, the computer guides the surgeon to the exact location of the tumour.
According to Dr. Praveen K.S, Consultant Neurosurgeon at Sri Shankara Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Bangalore, this technology had several benefits in this case,
Accurately localised on the surface, such a small tumour in eloquent area
Limited the size of the craniotomy (removal of a portion of the skull to access the brain) to the bare minimum of 4cm
Minimising blood loss and unnecessary exposure of brain
Confirming total excision by mapping the cavity at the end
Patient improved to complete neurological function on day 1!
The patient was discharged on post operative Day 4 and is expected to have an uneventful road to recovery!
Just before discharge, the patient said
“When we heard about brain tumour or brain surgery, we got extremely scared. I had sleepless nights for an entire week. But, as soon as we came to Shankara Cancer Hospital and met Dr. Praveen, 80% of our worries went away. I had never imagined that I will have brain surgery and walk out of the hospital in 4 days, feeling like a completely healthy and normal person!”
To know more about the facilities at Shankara Cancer Hospital, click here.