Starting with a craniotomy, whereby an opening is created in the skull, brain surgery allows the doctor to remove abnormal growths, or repair problems in the brain. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that brain surgery requires three to seven days of hospitalization, and patients need to keep their heads elevated to prevent swelling. Patients with certain neurological conditions may benefit from brain surgery, which can improve their symptoms and quality of life.
Seizures
Seizures occur as a result of sudden, irregular electrical activity, which disrupts the brain's communication system. With a partial seizure, the abnormal electrical activity occurs in only one brain hemisphere. But with a generalized seizure, the abnormal electrical activity occurs in both hemispheres. The Merck Manual Home Edition notes that a doctor may recommend brain surgery if the patient continues to have seizures while using multiple anticonvulsants. The Manual adds that in cases where a scar or another brain defect causes the seizure, surgery ends the seizures in 80 percent of patients. If abnormal electrical activity traveling from one brain hemisphere to another causes the seizure, the doctor may cut the corpus callosum, which connects the two hemispheres. Without the corpus callosum, the two hemispheres cannot communicate.
Changes in Cerebrospinal Fluid
The cerebrospinal fluid, which surrounds the brain and spinal cord, protects the brain and removes waste. If a disease affects the cerebrospinal fluid, it can cause problems. For example, hydrocephalus, also called water on the brain, results in an abnormal cerebrospinal fluid collection. The fluid build-up puts pressure on the brain, which can cause brain damage. The Better Health Channel from the Victorian government notes that infections, such as meningitis, alter cerebrospinal fluid. In these cases, the brain surgery involves placing a tube in the brain to move the cerebrospinal fluid, according to the NIH.
Brain Tumors
A doctor may perform brain surgery on a brain cancer patient if the tumor can be reached. The NIH notes that if the tumor is deep in the brain, it may be debulked (removing much its mass to reduce its size). Certain tumors require surgical intervention, according to the Better Health Channel. An example of a brain tumor that may require surgery is a glioma. A glioma is a tumor that grows from a glial cell, which is a supportive cell in the brain.
Bleeding in the Brain
Patients who have bleeding in their brains may need surgery. The bleeding, or hemorrhage, may result from an injury. For example, after a head injury, the patient may have a subdural hematoma, in which blood pools in the brain, according to the NIH. Problems with the blood vessels in the brain, like a cerebral aneurysm, may lead to brain surgery. Other bleeding conditions that may require brain surgery include a subarachnoid hemorrhage, intraventricular bleed and stroke.
Other Reasons for Brain Surgery
The NIH states that a doctor may perform brain surgery to implant an electrical device to improve mobility in a Parkinson's disease patient. Patients who have damage to the covering of the brain, called the dura, may also benefit from brain surgery. Other reasons for brain surgery include treating nerve pain, or facial pain conditions, such as trigeminal neuralgia, a condition marked by severe pain accompanied by swelling of the trigeminal nerve.
