Expert Neurosurgeon Dr. Gurneet Singh Sawhney performs a complex Awake Craniotomy on a 40 YO-patient in Mumbai

Dr. Gurneet Singh Sawhney

Advancements in surgical science have made it possible to perform a brain tumor removal surgery while the patient is awake and responding to queries from the operating medical team. Awake craniotomy is a highly advanced surgery that requires utmost precision for desired results.

Awake craniotomy is increasingly performed the world over. With such surgeries being performed by Indian neurosurgeons as well, we are able to match up to the medical standards and infrastructure that healthcare system in the west offers.

Recently, Dr. Gurneet Singh Sawhney, an eminent neurosurgeon in Mumbai and a Senior consultant of Neurosurgery at Fortis Hospital, Mulund in Mumbai, performed an awake craniotomy on 40 years old Mr. Ravindra Chopade

Mr. Ravindra consulted Dr. Gurneet Singh Sawhney with complaints of focal seizures and issues in speaking. On further diagnosis and evaluation through an MRI Brain scan, revealed a large left frontal tumor in the speech area.

Dr. Gurneet Singh Sawhney suggested a functional MRI for an in-depth diagnosis of the tumor. The report revealed the tumor was firmly seated in the speech area, a critical and high-risk location. There were high chances of impairing the patient's speech function in case of a slight error during the surgery.

Dr. Gurneet Singh Sawhney was confident of performing a craniotomy to remove the tumor, but the risk of the patient's speech getting affected was very high. Hence, he decided to perform an awake craniotomy.

Dr. Gurneet Singh Sawhney states, 'Performing an awake craniotomy was the best possible solution to remove the frontal tumor. We focused ourselves on identifying the speech region of the brain through cortical mapping. Fortunately, we were able to do a complete excision of the tumor.'

Awake Craniotomy is preferred to conventional procedures to remove tumors that develop near important brain regions or have functional importance. The operating team can test these regions and ensure their functionality during the surgery. An awake craniotomy minimizes the risk of damaging the eloquent area in the brain and safe removal of the tumor.

Dr. Gurneet and his team briefed Mr. Ravindra about the awake craniotomy procedure, requested his full cooperation, and assured him of the best possible recovery.

Dr Gurneet Singh instructed Mr. Ravindra to speak select phrases, count numbers, and even verbally identify certain images shown to him during the operation. When Mr. Ravindra did not respond to the questions asked by the operating team during the ongoing surgery, they realized that they had reached the speech area of the brain.

During the operation, the specific areas of the brain were stimulated while the patient was speaking. If there was a speech arrest on stimulation then that area was identified as a critical one and left untouched.

Dr. Gurneet Singh Sawhney and his team proceeded to remove the tumor entirely without damaging the speech area in the brain. Dr. Gurneet was satisfied with the outcome of the awake craniotomy.

The patient, Mr. Ravindra, recovered fully and was discharged in three days. Today, Mr. Ravindra is a pleased man who narrates his experience of a successful awake craniotomy with everyone he meets.

About Dr. Gurneet Singh Sawhney

Dr. Gurneet Singh Sawhney is a young and expert brain and spine surgeon in Mumbai. He performs, brain tumor surgery, epilepsy surgery, vascular neurosurgery, pediatric neurosurgery, spine surgery, epilepsy surgery, and so on.

He is highly competent in performing complex functional neurosurgeries such as Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery (DBS), Parkinson's Treatment, Spinal cord stimulation which are performed as awake craniotomy procedures

He is available for consultation at Fortis Hospital, Mulund, Fortis Hiranandani Vashi and Savla Diagnostic Center and Polyclinic, Chembur, in Mumbai. Interested patients and family members of patients can contact +91 9902579412 for appointments.