Patient uses phones while getting brain tumour removed — but how?

In a remarkable display of medical innovation and patient resilience, doctors at a cancer hospital in India’s Lucknow successfully removed a tumour from a patient’s brain while the man scrolled on his phone.

Harishchandra Prajapati, a 56-year-old man, underwent a successful brain tumour removal at Kalyan Singh Cancer Institute in Lucknow’s Chak Ganjaria area, while engaging with his phone, fully awake.

But how is that possible?

According to the Times of India, doctors used a groundbreaking technique called “awake craniotomy”, which enabled the patient to interact while under local anaesthesia and helped doctors reduce the risk of nerve damage.

During the procedure, Prajapati was able to participate in tasks such as using his phone, holding a pen, and moving his legs.

This helped doctors to monitor the his brain activity in real-time, ensuring the safe removal of the tumour without compromising his motor functions.

Prajapati had been enduring intense headaches and weakness in his left hand and leg. After being diagnosed with a brain tumour at a private hospital and being warned about the potential risk of paralysis, his family sought alternative treatment at Kalyan Singh Cancer Institute.

Dr Vijendra Kumar, head of the neurosurgery department, explained to TOI: “We opted for the Awake Craniotomy technique to minimise the risk of nerve damage.”

Meanwhile, Dr Devashish Shukla, medical superintendent at the institute, added that brain mapping was performed using a nerve monitoring machine, helping the team navigate the delicate procedure.

Doctors in India use groudbreaking “awake craniotomy” technique to remove tumour from patient’s brain