Image credit : Illustrative image

Patient’s brain tumour was removed after administering local anaesthesia and placing him under controlled sedation. This rare surgical procedure was carried out by Doctors at Hannah Joseph Hospital in Madurai.

The surgery was performed two weeks ago on a resident of Sivaganga, using an innovative technology, particularly the use of Yellow 560 fluorescence, a dye that highlights the area of a tumour visible under an advanced microscope. The patient was conscious through the surgery.

Dr. Arunkumar added that the patient was now fully conscious and can perform all functions without any difficulty. He added that the team included K. Senthilkumar, Consultant Neurosurgeon, N. Arunkumar, Consultant Neuro Anaesthetist, and Caroline Satya, Senior Consultant Anaesthetist.

M.J. Arunkumar, Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon and Chairman and Managing Director of Hannah Joseph Hospital, said there are several advantages of performing the surgery under local anaesthesia.

He said that patients interact with the doctors throughout the surgery. This provides space to preserve limb movements, speech and memory. The areas of motor function can be identified using stimulators, the doctor said.

“It is a highly risky surgery that took place over two and a half hours with the patient receiving painkillers through Intravenous therapy (IV). We have been successful in removing most parts of the large tumour located on the left side of the brain. Since the rest of the tumour is malignant, the patient has to continue to undergo radiation therapy,” he said.