Possible risks of brain surgery are: Problems with speech, memory, muscle weakness, balance, vision, coordination, and other functions. These problems may last a short while or they may not go away. Blood clot or bleeding in the brain.
As with any brain surgery, awake brain surgery has the potential for risks and complications. These include bleeding, brain swelling, infection, brain damage or death. Other surgical complications may include seizures, muscle weakness, and problems with memory and thinking.
Some people recover well after brain surgery, but this can take some time. Other people have some problems, or long term difficulties. The problems you may have depends on the area of the brain where the tumour was (or still is if you only had part of the tumour removed).
How Long Does It Take to Recover After Brain Surgery? In total, it typically takes about 4-8 weeks to make a full recovery from a brain surgery. The initial incisions on your head may be sore for about a week afterwards. You may have some mild headaches for a period of about 4-8 weeks as well.
Surgery can cause swelling in the brain. This increases the pressure inside the skull and can make your symptoms worse for a short time. You might need to have steroids after surgery, either as tablets or injections. Steroids can reduce swelling and pressure around the brain.
Brain surgery is a major medical event. It carries extra risk. Possible risks associated with brain surgery include: allergic reaction to anesthesia.
Pain is usually minimal since there are only a small number of pain nerve endings in the head. Nevertheless, you may experience headaches and other tenderness in the area that was affected.
After your brain tumor surgery, you will likely spend the night in a neuro-critical care unit (NCCU) for observation. You may be connected to IVs, a heart monitor, a catheter and an oxygen mask. You will also have a dressing (bandage) on your head for a day or two.
Regaining memory after brain surgery will depend on whether the memory loss is caused by temporary swelling or the removal of brain cells responsible for your memory. The side-effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy can include memory loss and cognitive difficulties.
The 30- and 180-day survival rates for infratentorial craniotomy were 100% for 2021.
Your Recovery
You will probably feel very tired for several weeks after surgery. You may also have headaches or problems concentrating. It can take 4 to 8 weeks to recover from surgery. Your cuts (incisions) may be sore for about 5 days after surgery.
Brain surgery can sometimes have consequences on the emotional and relational world of patients that can make their social interactions problematic and influence their behavior in different ways to the point of apparently changing their personality.
Having brain surgery might sound like a frightening procedure, but it is quite safe. Doctors who carry out these surgeries are very skilled specialists. You can share your concerns and worries with your doctors and cancer nurse specialist. They will be able to tell you what will happen during the operation.
Most similar studies show an error rate between 1% and 8%, specifically, an adverse event rate between 3.7% and 16.6%,[3,13,17] with about one-quarter to one-half judged as preventable adverse events (errors).
There is increasing evidence that people who have undergone brain surgery experience significant pain. This pain can have serious consequences including raised blood pressure, agitation, prolonged recovery time and an increased risk of long-term headaches.
However, when brain surgery goes wrong, patients can suffer terrible harm. Some die. Others can be left blind, paralysed or disabled.
Postoperative delirium – This is a temporary condition that causes the patient to be confused, disoriented, unaware of their surroundings, and have problems with memory and paying attention. It may not start until a few days after surgery, comes and goes, and usually disappears after about a week.
Walking after brain injury can be a long and difficult process, but it is achievable with hard work and dedication.
The procedure lasts typically 2-3 hours if your surgeon is merely taking a biopsy. The procedure normally lasts 4-6 hours if your brain surgeon removes your tumor and does a craniotomy. The procedure normally lasts 3–4 hours if your surgeon chooses to remove your tumor using a transsphenoidal technique.
Brain tissue doesn't have any pain fibers, so while you may feel pressure or vibrations from the surgery, you shouldn't feel pain. We use a local anesthetic (similar to those used at a dentist's office) to numb the muscles, skin and bone that the surgeon has to cut through to get to the brain.
After brain surgery, most patients are able to leave the hospital after only a few days. Depending upon your functional abilities following surgery, our physical therapists and occupational therapists will evaluate you. In some instances, a short stay at a rehabilitation hospital near your home may be recommended.
Damage to the brain can cause emotional and behavioural changes. Many brain injury survivors experience problems managing anger. This can lead to unpredictable, destructive and sometimes aggressive behaviour that can put a strain on relationships, work life and everyday activities.
Neuroscience nurses who care for craniotomy patients often see transient alterations in behavior, intellect and personality similar to those occurring after minor head injury or subarachnoid hemorrhage. These changes may lead to depression and alter family dynamics.
Avoid having your hair colored or permed until four weeks after surgery. Lifting: Try not to lift, push, or pull more than 10 pounds for four weeks after surgery. developing problems such as blood clots or pneumonia. Walk with assistance if you feel unsteady.