With eyes wide open

Updated on: 12 January,2011 07:26 AM IST |
Bindiya Carmeline Thomas |

A tumour pressing down his brain, doctors operated on a patient who was entirely conscious

With eyes wide open

A tumour pressing down his brain, doctors operated on a patient who was entirely conscious

All clear: Chetan with the doctors

Chetan (34), an administrator, said, "It started as a headache while I was leaving the office and suddenly increased because of high blood pressure. I immediately went to the hospital and got some scans and X-rays. They didn't tell me until the next morning what was going on."

He added, "They told me that the tumour would grow in the next three months. I didn't want to wait until then." It was then that the newly wed from Vijayanagar chose to undergo an Awake Craniotomy. The procedure required Chetan to be awake and alert while surgeons poked and prodded through his cerebral cortex while under local anesthesia.

Satish Rudrappa, head, neurosurgery, Manipal Hospital, said, "The patient presented a kind of contortion on his face and hands which means that some kind of pressure was being applied inside the brain. We found a small tumour on the right side of the brain."

He added, "He would've been left with a speech dysfunction and other problems had he been unconscious through the surgery." He added, "During the procedure, the patient would be able to lift his hands and make facial movements which correspond to the area of surgery, with instruction from a surgeon."

Chetan, who is now resting at home, added, "I was never nervous or scared. Not when they told me I had a brain tumour, nor when I was in the operation room. I always tried to remain normal. So did my family."

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