| Brain Mapping is an advanced form of brain surgery | | | | three-dimensional computer images as a guide in brain |
| or neurosurgical procedure which helps to identify | | | | mapping. This is especially critical as at present there |
| which parts of the brain control which functions of | | | | is no way in which the brains connections can be |
| the body. This type of surgery is usually used for | | | | tracked using MRI (Magnetic Resonance Image) |
| those patients who are suffering from certain kinds | | | | scans. |
| of brain tumor or epileptic seizures (where the | | | | What a neuro surgeon does it maps the brain by |
| diseased tissue is close to areas of the brain that | | | | marking each area that he has identified as being a |
| control a person's vision, language and body | | | | function part of the brain and whilst surgery is taking |
| movements). | | | | place he will endeavor to precisely remove as much |
| Prior to surgery beginning the patient is sedated and | | | | of the damaged brain tissue as possible as shown on |
| numbing medications are used which ensure that the | | | | the computer images and by the responses he |
| patient feels no pain during the procedure. Whilst the | | | | receives from the patient being treated. |
| surgery is being carried out the patient's head is | | | | Another option which can be used with certain kinds |
| placed in a comfortable fixed position (so to ensure | | | | of awake brain surgery is Stereotactic Radio Surgery |
| that the head is kept still and the brain surgery can | | | | and is usually used for patients suffering from |
| be completed accurately). | | | | epilepsy. With this kind of surgery the medical team |
| At a specific time during the surgery being carried | | | | may purposefully reproduce a seizure in a patient (in |
| the patient will be woken up and whilst the surgeon | | | | a controlled setting) in order to help map out the |
| stimulates the patient's brain they will be asked | | | | brain and identify the tissue that is affected by the |
| questions by a speech pathologist or asked to | | | | epileptic seizures the patient is suffering from. |
| complete a set of movements by a neurologist. In | | | | The most critical factor of any kind of awake brain |
| some cases the patient may be asked to look at a | | | | surgery for the patient so that it is successful is that |
| set of cards and identify what objects appear on | | | | they have a highly trained and experienced |
| them, other may be asked to count numbers whilst | | | | neuroanestesiologist who has been specifically trained |
| some may just be asked to raise a finger. | | | | in this field of surgery who can administer the |
| Both prior to the surgery taking place and whilst the | | | | medication so that the patient feels no pain whilst |
| surgery is taking place the medical team will use | | | | the surgery takes place. |