Preparing for Brain Surgery

The lead up to brain surgery can be a stressful time. It is recommended that you ask your neurosurgeon any questions you have, no matter how trivial you think they are. The greater your knowledge of the procedure, the less frightening it will seem.

Surgeon carrying out brain surgery - By GorodenkoffGorodenkoff | Shutterstock

Having a better understanding will also reduce any fears of the unknown and help you to feel more in control of the situation. Write your questions down before any appointments with the consultant, and take a family member or friend with you for support. Making nice plans with friends and family throughout the weeks leading up to surgery may help to relieve the anxiety which you may be experiencing.

Advance directives and living wills

While the chances of serious complications are low for most neurosurgeries, all surgeries carry some risk. Make sure to have discussions with your family members about your wishes in the event of something unexpected happening, or if you are unable to make decisions for yourself.

Patients undergoing any type of surgery should consider completing a Living Will and nominating a power of attorney before surgery.

Preparing for post-surgery

In the weeks leading up to surgery, you should consider putting in place practical coping strategies to help aid your recovery post-operation, such as:

  • Prepare and freezing nutritious meals
  • Make necessary adjustments to your bedroom and bathroom
  • Get ahead on household chores
  • Collect any books, magazines, and movies you may want to read or watch post-surgery
  • Arrange any cover you need at work and create a return to work plan with your management
  • Plan for any childcare needed
  • Arrange travel to and from surgery

Pre-operative medical checks and appointments

In the week before surgery, you will meet with your treatment team.  Here you will be briefed on the operative procedure, the benefits, and risks of surgery, and what to expect post surgery.

You may be required to undergo health tests and checks to make sure you are ‘medically fit’ for surgery. It is important to make sure your physician is fully informed of your medical history and knows of any medications you may be taking. The tests carried out vary considerably depending on your medical history, but may include:

  • Blood pressure tests, pulse, and temperature
  • Blood tests to check for hormone levels and chemical markers
  • An angiogram of your blood vessels and blood flow
  • An Electrocardiogram (ECG) & echocardiogram to ensure your heart is healthy
  • Lung function tests & chest x-ray
  • Neuropsychologic examinations if your condition is affecting your cognition

These checks help to identify and optimally treat any underlying medical conditions which could cause further risk from surgery.

You may be asked to stop taking certain medication a week or more prior to surgery (such as anticoagulants like warfarin, or antiplatelet drugs like aspirin). You may also be asked to take certain medications in the week before your surgery (such as steroid agents which reduce swelling in the brain, or anti-seizure medication).

Preoperative imaging tests

Several imaging tests may be conducted leading up to your surgery. These include:

  • CT scans
  • Magnetic resonance Imaging (MRI)
  • Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DIT)

These images provide a 3-dimensional map of your brain structure and function. This helps guide the neurosurgeon to plan the procedure and avoid any areas of the brain associated with important functions.

Fiducials

Your neurosurgeon may place fiducial markers to pinpoint certain areas of your scalp for surgical incision. The fiducials are small stickers which are painlessly placed on your scalp pre-surgery. It is important not to move the fiducials once they are placed.

Packing a bag

You may wish to pack the following items to improve the comfort of your stay in hospital:

  • Any insurance documentation
  • Pajamas
  • Day clothes
  • Clean underwear
  • Dressing gown and slippers
  • A small towel
  • Toiletries
  • Reading material
  • Some loose change
  • Any medication you need
  • Glasses or contact lenses
  • A notebook and pen
  • An address book with any important phone numbers
  • Phones, tablets, laptops and MP3 players if permitted

Hygiene

It is important to remove any body piercings before your operation. This helps to minimize the spread of harmful bacteria throughout the hospital. You must also remove all makeup and nail polish so that the surgical team can see your skin and nails to monitor your circulation. Many hospitals also require you to shower or bathe before surgery.

Fasting

Your doctor may ask you to not eat or drink anything for a period of time before the operation. This is crucial as you need an empty stomach during surgery, to ensure that you do not vomit while under anesthetic.

Further Reading

Last Updated: Nov 18, 2022

Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

  • APA

    Boughton, Tim. (2022, November 18). Preparing for Brain Surgery. News-Medical. Retrieved on November 04, 2024 from https://www.news-medical.net/health/Preparing-for-Brain-Surgery.aspx.

  • MLA

    Boughton, Tim. "Preparing for Brain Surgery". News-Medical. 04 November 2024. <https://www.news-medical.net/health/Preparing-for-Brain-Surgery.aspx>.

  • Chicago

    Boughton, Tim. "Preparing for Brain Surgery". News-Medical. https://www.news-medical.net/health/Preparing-for-Brain-Surgery.aspx. (accessed November 04, 2024).

  • Harvard

    Boughton, Tim. 2022. Preparing for Brain Surgery. News-Medical, viewed 04 November 2024, https://www.news-medical.net/health/Preparing-for-Brain-Surgery.aspx.

Comments

The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of News Medical.
Post a new comment
Post

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.

You might also like...
Transcranial ultrasound stimulation: A new frontier in noninvasive brain therapy