Why is this procedure done?
A craniotomy is a type of surgery. The doctor makes a hole in your skull or head bone to reach the brain. You may need this surgery due to: ‚
- Brain cancer
- Blood clots or bleeding in the brain
- Skull fracture or other injury to your head
- Bulge in a vessel in your brain
- Swelling of the brain
- Brain infection
- Treatment of epilepsy or seizures or other diseases
What will the results be?
Your results will depend on what you are being treated for. Talk to your doctor about what might happen. ‚
What happens before the procedure?
- Your doctor will do an exam and take your history. Talk to the doctor about:
- All the drugs you are taking. Be sure to include all prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, and herbal supplements. Tell the doctor about any drug allergy. Bring a list of drugs you take with you.
- Any bleeding problems. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking any drugs that may cause bleeding. Some of these are Coumadin ‚ ®, ibuprofen, Aleve ‚ ® (naproxen), or aspirin. Certain vitamins and herbs, such as garlic and fish oil, may also add to the risk for bleeding. You may need to stop these drugs as well. Talk to your doctor about them.
- If you need to stop eating or drinking before your procedure.
- Your doctor may ask you to stop drinking beer, wine, and mixed drinks (alcohol) and to stop smoking cigarettes.
- You will not be allowed to drive right away after the procedure. Ask a family member or a friend to drive you home.
Your doctor may order: ‚
- Blood tests
- ECG
- X-ray
- MRI of the brain
- CT scan of the brain
- PET scan of the brain
What happens during the procedure?
- Once you are in the operating room, the staff will put an IV in your arm to give you fluids and drugs. You will be given a drug to make you sleepy. It will also help you stay pain free during the surgery.
- When you are asleep, the doctors put a tube in your mouth to help you breathe. They also put another small tube in your nose. This one goes down to your stomach to drain out any food or fluid that might come out during surgery. Your doctor will put a tube in your bladder to drain urine.
- Your hair may or may not be shaved off so the doctor can make the cut to get to the brain.
- A special device will hold your head in position for the procedure. The doctor will cut your scalp open to see the skull.
- Small holes will be drilled into the skull. A special tool will be used to make cuts from one hole to another. This makes a bone flap.
- Your doctor will then fix the damage in your brain, based on your problem.
- After the surgery, the doctor puts the bone flap back and your scalp is sewn in place.
- You may have a tube in your bladder to drain urine, and a tube from your skull to watch the pressure in your brain after surgery.
- The surgery may last for 3 to 5 hours.
What happens after the procedure?
- You will go to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the staff will watch you closely. They will check your vital signs often.
- Your doctor will test you from time to time for other signs.
- Your face or head may be swollen for a few days. You will rest with the head of your bed raised to help with swelling.
- You may have a headache for a few weeks. The doctor may give you drugs to help with pain.
- You may stay in the hospital for 3 to 7 days. How long you stay depends on your recovery.
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚
What lifestyle changes are needed?
Do not play contact sports for at least 1 year. Talk to your doctor about what changes need to be made. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain
- Fight or prevent an infection
- Prevent seizures
- Prevent brain swelling
What problems could happen?
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Blood clots (pain in your legs or trouble breathing)
- Nerve damage
- Stroke
- Long-lasting brain damage that causes problems like:
- Paralysis
- Trouble with balance and coordination
- Trouble with speech, memory, seeing, or hearing
- Changes in alertness or not being able to wake up
- Swelling in the brain
- Seizures
- Not able to control blood pressure
- Death
When do I need to call the doctor?
Activate the emergency medical system right away if you have signs of a stroke. Call 911 in the United States or Canada. The sooner treatment begins, the better your chances for recovery. Call for emergency help right away if you have: ‚
- Signs of stroke:
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause
Call your doctor if you have: ‚
- Signs of a blood clot. These include sudden shortness of breath, sudden onset of chest pain, breathing problems, pain or tenderness in your calf.
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, pain with passing urine.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
- Upset stomach and throwing up that is not helped by the drugs you are taking
- More headaches
- Very bad neck pain or stiff neck
- Change in balance or movement
- Problems with memory, alertness, or thinking clearly
- Change in eyesight
Where can I learn more?
Better Health Channel ‚
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Craniotomy ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚