Genk (Brussels Morning Newspaper): In brain tumor surgery, some patients stay awake to help doctors avoid speech areas. Neurosurgeon Christophe Oosterbos supports this. Others may need full anesthesia if they’re not healthy. Recently, a 44-year-old man had surgery with new sensors at Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, making it safer.
In our country, patients having brain tumor surgery in the language center are typically woken up during the operation. Neurosurgeon Christophe Oosterbos states that patients perform language tasks to help monitor the speech area of the brain, ensuring that they do not lose their ability to speak. This process requires patients to stay awake for about 5 hours during the surgery.
How does new electrosensor technology improve brain surgery outcomes in Genk?
Frank Weyns, head of neurosurgery at ZOL, explained that some patients are not woken up during brain surgery if their health is poor, the tumor is too large, or they want to stay asleep. This makes the surgery riskier. Recently, a 44-year-old man with a large brain tumor had surgery under full anesthesia at Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg in Genk, using a new method with electrosensors that had never been used in the country before.
Neurophysiologist Charlotte Timmermans shared that during a recent brain surgery, they used silicone plates with electrodes to monitor nerve structures. The operation was successful, and Dr. Oosterbos reported that the patient is doing well and has a better life expectancy. Frank Weyns, head of neurosurgery, described electrosensors as a small step towards safer brain surgery, noting that while this technology won’t be the standard, it will help in complex cases.
