Berhampur, June 16: In a landmark achievement for south Odisha’s medical community, a surgical team of the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital at Sitalapalli here successfully performed a complex neurological procedure recently to remove a life-threatening tumour in the brain of a 60-year-old female patient.
This is the first time that such an advanced surgical technique had been conducted in this city.
The patient came to the hospital complaining about an agonizing headache and weakness in her left upper and lower limbs. She was put through a MRI which revealed a large left Cerebellopontine angle tumour. Such tumours in this location are particularly challenging as they reside deep at the base of the brain crowding the brainstem and involving the delicate cranial nerves that control facial movement and hearing.
To tackle the complex location of the mass, the neurosurgery team employed a combination of high-end technology and specialized expertise. The surgical team utilised High-Precision Neurological Microscope, which allowed surgeons to visualize delicate brain structures and blood vessels with extreme clarity, and Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator (CUSA), a sophisticated machine that uses ultrasonic frequency to fragment and aspirate tumour tissue while preserving vital nerves and healthy brain matter.
The successful ‘near-total excision’ of the tumour was led by Dr. Pravat Kumar Jagadev, Associate Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery, who was supported by Dr. Pratyush Kumar Mishra of the Neuro-Anaesthesia Department and the dedicated Neurosurgical Operation Theater staff.
Fpollowing the surgery, the patient was found to have Grade II facial palsy, a common occurrence given the tumour’s proximity to the facial nerves. But she has been showing gradual improvement through targeted physiotherapy.
The successful operation is being hailed as a significant leap forward for south Odisha’s healthcare infrastructure proving that advanced neurosurgical interventions were now available locally.
Mr. Deba Prasad Dash, Director of the hospital, said that the achievement marked a significant milestone in advanced neurosurgical care in south Odisha. Congratulating the surgical team for its achievement, he said its expertise, dedication, teamwork and commitment to patient care had made it possible.
“The successful use of advanced technologies such as the High-Precision Neurological Miscroscope and CUSA demonstrates the growing capabilities of our institution in handling highly complex brain surgeries,” he said.
