A 95-year-old cancer survivor recently underwent a successful neurosurgery at Manipal Hospital, Dona Paula, Goa.
The patient had severe complications on the right side of his brain, where a large blood clot was found. The clot developed 2 months back when the patient had a fall. At that time, the patient showed no adverse symptoms, however, over the next two months, he developed weakness in his left leg, and then his left hand. This made him dependent, first, on a walking stick, then a walker, and finally, a wheelchair.
There were also changes in his behaviour and memory lapses. After a CT was done, it showed the formation of large clot on the right side of the brain.
Consultant–Neurosurgery, Manipal Hospitals, Goa, Dr Omkar Narayan Churi, said, “The type of bleeding, surgery and prognosis of such kind of bleeds is overall positive. However, any surgery around the brain can have unexpected untoward outcomes. Chronic subdural hematoma, as it is called, is a common cause of morbidity in the elderly.”
The major challenge that comes with such of injuries is the age of the patient and decision making.
He added, “The credit for the surgery goes to the fighter who never lost his zeal for life, as he is a cancer-survivor. Although some type of brain surgeries may not be amenable for the geriatric population, the kind of surgeries performed here are overall safe, ensuring good recovery, and getting the patients back on their feet.”
However, brain surgery on a 90-year-old is quiet rare, he stated. “It is time to understand that like all the other fields of science, medicine, and in this particular instance, neurosurgery, is also changing, rather, advancing. It is always better to obtain detailed information about any pathology before making an informed decision about the life of a loved one. Let us stop placing an age barrier on treatment, and on life,” said Churi
The patient is now quiet self-reliant and is able to move after being discharged 5 days after the surgery.