By Dr.Ravindra Patil
Undergoing brain surgery is a major event in anybody’s life. In case you or your family member has to undergo brain surgery, it is useful to know something about brain surgery and how recovery happens after a brain surgery.
Brain Surgery can be a very traumatic experience, and it is common for many patients recovering from brain surgery to face depression, spells of dizziness, confusion and weakness post the surgery. It is very necessary that family members and friends talk to the patient and be empathetic towards them.
Brain surgery is done for many disease conditions like brain tumours, to treat cerebral haemorrhage, to treat trigeminal neuralgia, to treat epilepsy, to treat parkinsonism, to treat hydrocephalus and many other conditions. From the point of view of a patient or a care taker, these points are worth knowing.
Brain surgery may be done by a craniotomy or burr-hole surgery. In both, the skin will be opened by an incision and closed by sutures or staples to close the wound. The sutures or staples have to be removed after a week or more.
In hydrocephalus, there is too much cerebrospinal fluid. Hence a surgery is done by placing a tube from the brain to the abdominal cavity so that excess cerebrospinal fluid is drained off to the abdomen.
In craniotomy if a part of the skull [called a bone flap] is removed, it is washed, sterilised and sealed in a plastic packing and stored with the name of the patient written on the package. The bone flap is attached to the skull after a few months. In some cases, the bone flap is preserved inside the abdomen of the patient himself/herself.
Like any wound, the wound of the brain surgery is likely to suffer infection if proper wound care is not taken. So before surgery, the scalp hair is shaven. The scalp is cleaned with soap and water and then various antiseptic solutions. After surgery the surgical wound is cleaned and covered with sterile dressing and bandage. Never let the bandage get wet. Best of all, never touch the bandage. Let the doctors and nurses do the dressing of the wound after surgery.
After every surgery, there is a slight risk of internal bleeding. If blood accumulates inside the skull due to internal bleeding, it leads to many complications. To prevent collection of blood, drain may be kept in the wound or through a small hole away from the wound. This drain facilitates blood or fluid collection to be drained out.
But if your wound bleeds, it is best to visit the hospital immediately.
After getting discharged from the hospital after brain surgery, the patient’s body can be wiped with soapy water. Taking a bath is also safe, however, the patient may feel giddy and hence it is best to confine the patient to bed. Needless to state, the bandage or dressing on the head must never become wet.
A course of antibiotics to prevent infection, pain killers to reduce pain, medicines to reduce acidity etc are usually prescribed. These must be taken regularly. Missing one dose doesn’t create a major problem, but not taking medicines at all must NOT be done.
Besides these meds, the patient must also take whatever medicines he/she took prior to the surgery. These may be for high BP, diabetes or any such long standing condition.
You may have heard the above about patients who underwent brain surgery. It may happen in some case. So be prepared for slightly disturbed memory or movements or such things after a brain surgery. Doctors still do not understand the temporary mental changes called delirium that actually are the most common brain disease and the least understood. It occurs after medications, illness, and surgery.
The extremely common and little understood brain changes after surgery or illness includes confusion, delusions, and hallucinations. This is most often temporary, but might last hours, days, weeks, or even months. But, the more serious problems are those that develop cognitive problems and never recover. This can be quite subtle, but life changing. These include memory loss and lack of ability to concentrate that can last for years or be permanent.
Good news is that such things happen rarely. The neurosurgeon will explain the risks and benefits of surgery to the patient and his/her relatives fully before surgery. A patient undergoing surgery has to accept the possibility of risks to gain the benefits of surgical cure. One big problem is that people who need surgery are ill and that affects the brain. Hence it is not justifiable to blame the surgery for any cognitive or motor deficits after a brain surgery.
Our priority at Samarth Neuro and Super Speciality Hospital is to assist you in finding a treatment plan that is both suitable and affordable. Dr. Ravindra Patil, our chief neurosurgeon, possesses extensive expertise in performing various surgeries related to the brain and spine.
Does anesthesia affect the brain during surgery? What about the physical trauma of the surgery itself? Kidneys are affected by the surgery. If a surgery can damage other organs, it could also damage the brain. It is like a body wide inflammation. In the elderly, brain surgery may affect the brain.
It takes approximately 12-18 months for the brain to heal after a brain surgery and slowly and gradually the patient will regain all his normal functions and get back to his daily routine. However, in that time they need the complete support and understanding of their families, as well may need help from therapists. This will help the patient in gaining back their independence as well as confidence in their abilities.
After brain surgery, a person may feel disoriented and have some speech or understanding disability for a while. Family members and friends are advised to take a pause when talking to the patient, so that he/she can easily understand the conversation. Speaking slowly is not recommended, as patients may recognize it and have an emotional outburst or feel hurt.
Soon after brain surgery and 6 months later, and a year later, the patient should be taken to a neurologist and if necessary to a psychiatrist to see if he/she is recovering properly. Caregivers should watch out for emotional outbursts, like rage, uncontrollable laughter, withdrawal and depression. In case of such symptoms, it is advisable to take the patient for a check-up with a medical practitioner.
Samarth Neuro and Superspeciality Hospital has 100+ beds & specializes in emergency surgery for neurological issues/disorders & diagnostics.
Samarth Neuro and Superspeciality Hospital
