Brain Surgery

Brain surgery includes all procedures used to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the brain and its associated structures.


Some common reasons for brain surgery include:

  • Removal of a Tumour: Surgery may be required to remove a brain tumour, which may be cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign). The aim of the surgery is to remove as much of the tumour as is safely possible, while minimising damage to the healthy brain.
  • Repair of a Brain Aneurysm: An aneurysm is a bulging or weakened area on the wall of an artery (blood vessel) in the brain. Surgery may be required to repair the artery or aneurysm to prevent it bursting (rupture) and bleeding into the brain in the future. Other abnormalities of the arteries and veins in the brain may also require surgery to prevent future bleeding, including arteriovenous malformations (AVM), a tangle of blood vessels present from an early age, and cavernoma.
  • Treatment of Epilepsy: Sometimes medication does not control epileptic seizures and surgery may be required to remove the part of the brain causing the seizures.
  • Drainage of a Blood Clot (Haematoma): Bleeding may occur in, or on the surface of, the brain due to causes such as trauma, aneurysm rupture, and high blood pressure. Surgery may be required to drain the blood to relieve pressure on the brain.
  • Chiari Malformation Surgery: Chiari malformation is a structural abnormality in which brain tissue extends into the spinal canal and compresses structures in this region. Surgery may be required to create more space and relieve pressure.
  • Treatment of Hydrocephalus: Hydrocephalus is a condition where there is too much fluid causing pressure on the brain. The fluid is called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Surgery may be required to restore normal drainage of CSF and reduce the pressure. Surgery may require insertion of a permanent drainage system (shunt).
  • Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia: Trigeminal neuralgia is a condition that causes sudden, severe facial pain that can be triggered by simple activities such as talking, eating, or even a light breeze on the face. If medications cannot control the pain, nerve blocks or surgery may be required.

Brain surgery is usually done under general anaesthesia, although sometimes local anaesthesia and sedation is used (awake craniotomy) to test the function of the brain,  The surgeon makes an incision in the scalp and removes a piece of the skull. The size of the skull opening depends on what is needed to perform the surgery safely. Specialised instruments are used to remove the tumour or haematoma or repair the abnormality. Advanced imaging techniques, including MRI or CT scans or ultrasound, are often used to guide the surgeon and monitor progress during the procedure.

It’s important to note that brain surgery carries inherent risks due to the sensitivity and complexity of the brain. Utmost care is taken to minimize potential complications, and patients are closely monitored during and after the surgery.