Physicians at a cancer hospital in Lucknow, India, successfully excised a tumor from a patient’s brain while he browsed his phone.
Harishchandra Prajapati, a 56-year-old man, underwent a successful brain tumor removal at the Kalyan Singh Cancer Institute located in the Chak Ganjaria neighborhood, all the while remaining fully conscious and engaged with his phone.
How was this achieved?
According to the Times of India, the medical team employed a revolutionary technique known as “awake craniotomy,” allowing the patient to participate while under local anesthesia, which significantly minimized the risk of nerve damage.
Throughout the operation, Prajapati was able to perform activities such as texting on his phone, holding a pen, and moving his legs.
This interaction enabled the doctors to monitor his brain activity in real-time, ensuring the tumor was safely removed without affecting his motor abilities.
Prajapati had been suffering from severe headaches and weakness in his left arm and leg. After being diagnosed with a brain tumor at a private facility and being warned of potential paralysis, his family explored alternative treatment options at the Kalyan Singh Cancer Institute.
Dr. Vijendra Kumar, head of the neurosurgery department, told TOI: “We chose the Awake Craniotomy approach to lessen the risk of nerve damage.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Devashish Shukla, medical superintendent at the institute, noted that brain mapping was conducted with the assistance of a nerve monitoring machine, assisting the surgical team in navigating the intricate procedure.
In India, doctors utilize the groundbreaking “awake craniotomy” technique to safely remove a tumor from a patient’s brain.