Bhubaneswar: A landmark medical achievement was recorded in South Odisha recently as a surgical team at the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital in Sitalapalli, Berhampur, successfully performed a complex neurological operation to remove a life-threatening brain tumour from a 60-year-old female patient. This marks the first time such an advanced surgical technique has been conducted in the city.
The patient had approached the hospital complaining of an agonizing headache alongside weakness in her left upper and lower limbs. A subsequent MRI scan revealed a large left cerebellopontine angle tumour. Tumours in this specific location present a significant challenge to surgeons because they reside deep at the base of the brain, crowding the brainstem and involving delicate cranial nerves that control vital functions like hearing and facial movement.
To navigate this hazardous area, the neurosurgery team relied on a combination of specialized expertise and high-end technology. They utilized a High-Precision Neurological Microscope to visualize the delicate brain structures and blood vessels with extreme clarity. Additionally, they employed a Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator, which uses ultrasonic frequencies to fragment and aspirate the tumour tissue while carefully preserving the surrounding healthy brain matter and vital nerves.
The successful near-total excision of the mass was led by Dr. Pravat Kumar Jagadev, an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery. He was assisted by Dr. Pratyush Kumar Mishra from the Neuro-Anaesthesia Department, alongside the hospital’s dedicated neurosurgical operating theater staff.
Following the procedure, the patient experienced Grade II facial palsy. This temporary weakness is a common occurrence given how close the tumour was to the facial nerves, but she is already showing gradual improvement through targeted physiotherapy.
Hospital Director Deba Prasad Dash congratulated the team, noting that the successful use of advanced technology demonstrates the institution’s growing capability to handle highly complex brain surgeries. The milestone proves that advanced neurosurgical interventions are now available to patients locally in south Odisha, reducing the need to travel elsewhere for critical care.