What is it?
Awake brain surgery is a type of procedure performed while the patient is conscious to treat some brain tumours or epileptic seizures.
Who is right for the procedure?
Awake brain surgery, or craniotomy, allows surgeons to remove tumours that would otherwise be inoperable because they are too close to areas of the brain that control vision, language and body movements, and surgery would result in a significant loss of function.
When are you awake?
The patient is awake during most of the surgery. But they will be sedated and asleep while part of the skull is removed and also when doctors reattach this part of the skull at the end of the surgery.
How does it work?
The neurosurgeon will stimulate the area around the tumour. To precisely locate the functional areas of the brain that must be avoided, the neurosurgeon will ask the patient to perform tasks such as talking, counting and looking at pictures.
Will it hurt?
You will not feel pain. Your surgeon will make sure that you are as comfortable and calm as possible.
What are the risks?
As with any brain surgery, awake brain surgery has the potential for risks including bleeding, infection or brain damage. Overall, complications are uncommon and the degree of risk depends on factors such as the size, location and type of the tumour, and the general health and age of patient.
Is it a cure?
It is possible to cure some brain tumours with surgery. This depends on whether the tumour can be completely removed, the type of tumour it is, the grade of the tumour and its position in the brain.
* Information supplied by Johns Hopkins Medicine, the Mayo Clinic and CancerResearch UK
