Conscious Man Has Breakthrough Brain Surgery

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Main Category: Neurology / Neuroscience
Also Included In: Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Article Date: 26 Sep 2007 - 10:00 PDT

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In a world's first, a man in Canberra, Australia, was awake during an operation to have an aneurism removed from a vein in his brain. The aneurism was affecting his vision and giving him dizzy spells.

Despite its precarious location, surgeons decide to operate in case the aneurysm ruptured. Surgical team spokesman, Dr. Khurana, explained that the surgeons wore eyepieces which displayed a multi-dimensional MRI scan of the elderly man's head.

Dr. Khurana explained to news.com.au that the eyepieces were a bit like road navigation images being subtly injected into one's sunglasses while driving.

According to Dr. Khurana, the man was awake throughout the operation, as well as being "interactive". They were able to test his vision during the operation by asking him questions.

The team rehearsed the procedure using virtual surgical software. During the operation they used a new ultrasound probe to measure blood flow.

A few days after the operation the patient was discharged from hospital with much better vision and no traces of the aneurysm.

What is an Aneurysm (or aneurism)?

It is a localized, blood-filled bulge (dilation) of a blood vessel which is caused by disease or weakening of the vessel wall. Most commonly, aneurysms occur at the base of the brain in arteries, as well as the aorta (artery which comes out of the heart). When it is in a vein it is called a venous aneurism.

The bulge in the blood vessel can burst, often leading to death. As the aneurism gets bigger its likelihood of bursting increases accordingly.

-- Canberra Hospital

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
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