SKMCH Marks Milestone with Youngest Awake Brain Tumor Surgery
A Groundbreaking Surgical Achievement in Paediatric Neurosurgery Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCHandRC) has made a significant breakthrough in the field of paediatric neurosurgery by successfully performing an awake brain tumour surgery on a 6-year-old patient. This case is believed to be the youngest reported instance in indexed medical literature, marking a major milestone in the treatment of childhood brain tumours. Awake brain surgery is typically performed on adult patients, especially when tumours are located near critical areas of the brain that control movement or speech. The procedure involves keeping the patient conscious during surgery so that the medical team can monitor neurological functions in real-time, reducing the risk of damage to essential brain regions. However, this technique is rarely used in children due to the added complexity of ensuring their cooperation and comfort throughout the operation. The young patient, who hails fr...