Brain Surgery Complications

Surgical procedures of the brain can be a result of a traumatic injury, disease or tumor. Brain surgery is viewed as a serious matter and precautions are taken when determining whether or not surgery is necessary. The health risks and complications of performing surgery on the brain is weighed in terms of what is the best possible outcome for the patient and whether or not brain surgery is completely unavoidable.

Requirements for Brain Surgery

• If a CAT scan shows an abnormality on the brain as the result of a disease or head trauma a specialized surgeon will have to make the decision concerning the patient's overall health. In situations where abnormalities impair certain brain functions surgery may be needed in order to repair the proper functions of the brain. Hemorrhaging and tumors can appear as abnormalities.

Associated Risks

• In some instances, especially with head trauma, immediate surgical action is required. The longer it takes to perform brain surgery the more associated risks arise from the injury to the brain such as brain bleeds that can lead to sudden death and mental retardation. At the same time, brain surgery itself has certain associated risks such as a bacterial infection due to the brain being exposed to the open air.

Anesthesia Complications

• Anesthesia is used during surgical procedures to block pain receptors in the brain so that patients are kept comfortable during the surgery. A patient may have an allergic reaction to the anesthesia used which can cause breathing problems, loss of feeling due to misplacement of the anesthesia in a spinal location and even death in rare, serious cases. It is important that you tell your physician about any previous reactions to anesthesia.

More Complications

• According to the University of Maryland Medical Center "surgery on any one area may cause problems with speech, memory, muscle weakness, balance, vision, coordination, and other functions. These problems may last a short while or they may not go away." Blood clots and brain bleeds are also associated complications of brain surgery as well as seizures, stroke, coma and swelling of the brain.

Advice

• If your doctor has recommended brain surgery as a necessity to fix certain impairments of the brain you should discuss any concerns you have openly. Your doctor will be able to help you understand the procedure and the risks involved. Avoid head trauma by wearing a helmet any time you ride a bike or motorcycle and making sure there are no sharp corners in your home to fall and hit your head on.