‎10 Simple Ways to Brain Tune Up

 

1) Eat Almonds

 2) Drink Apple Juice

 3) Sleep well

 4) Enjoy simple Pleasures

 5) Fast for a day

 6) Exercise your mind

 7) Practice Yoga or Meditation

 8 ) Eat whole wheat

 9) Develop imagination

 10 ) Control your temper

 On Autopsy: Brain surrounded by pus (the yellow-greyish-greenish coat around the brain, under the dura mater lifted by the forceps) as a the result of bacterial meningitis (Streptococcus pneumoniae).

 

Treatment Regime For Bacterial Meningitis: Intravenous fluids,combination of antibiotics until the organism is identified (Ceftriaxone,Penicillin G,Vancomycin,Ampicillin), Anti-tubercular agents, Corticosteroids to reduce seizures and impaired consciousness, Medications for nausea and vomiting, NSAIDs for pain, Narcotic pain medication for moderate to severe pain

Preparation for the craniotomy:

 To prepare for the surgery, tests are ordered by the doctor several days before the procedure. These tests include blood tests, chest x-ray, electrocardiogram as well as a brain scan by MRI, CT, or PET.

 The patient should not take anti-inflammatory medicines or blood thinners, for at least one week before the procedure. The doctor may prescribe medications to take prior to surgery to remove anxiety and/or prevent procedure swelling, infection or seizures after surgery.

 The patient should stop smoking, chewing tobacco, and drinking alcohol for 1-2 weeks before the surgery since these are known to cause complications during and after surgery and thereby slowing down the healing process.

 The patient should not eat or drink anything for at least 8 – 12 hours before the procedure.

 Just before the procedure, the patient’s head is shaved over the area where the craniotomy will be done. The scalp is usually shaved in the shape of a small horse-shoe.

 As a preparation for the procedure, general anesthesia is administered through an IV placed in the arm, before the surgery to put the patient to sleep completely. However, if the patient is undergoing an awake craniotomy, general anesthesia is given, but the patient will be awake for a part of the procedure. In case of stereotaxy, local anesthesia is administered only in the area of operatio

The procedure of the craniotomy:

 Once anesthesia takes effect and the patient is asleep, the head is help in a fixed position using a 3-pin skull fixation device. Next, a drain is placed in the lower back to drain off the cerebrospinal fluid secreted in the brain and passed through the spinal column. Removing the spinal fluid helps relieve pressure from the brain during surgery. The scalp is then prepped with an antiseptic and an incision made on the skin. The incision may be made either around the occipital bone at the nape of the neck or a curved incision above the ear and eye. Care is taken to avoid the hairline; however, if the surgeon thinks it is needed he may shave a part of the head and cut there.

 Once the incision is made, the skin, muscles and tissues of the scalp are then folded back and the skull is exposed. Next, small holes are drilled in the skull using a high speed drill and a bone saw to cut out a flap through the holes. This bone flap is then removed to expose the brain tissues at the area the surgeon will do surgery or examination.

 After surgery, the bone flap is put back in place and held with soft wires, plates and screws. The surgeon may choose to place a drain under the skin to remove blood and fluid from the site of the surgery. The drain may stay in place for 1-2 days. The skin and muscles are then sewn together. Finally, a bandage or dressing is put over the incision.

 The complete procedure, from anesthesia to the wearing off of the anesthesia post-surgery, takes about 4-6 hours.

Reasons for Craniotomy

 A craniotomy can be done for following reasons :

 • Inspection the brain for visible problems.

 • Serious brain injury or head trauma.

 • Removal of blood clot or hematoma from the brain.

 • Biopsy – to take tissue samples from the brain to test for cancer.

 • To draining an abscess of the brain.

 • Relieving pressure against the skull from swelling of the brain.

 • Controlling hemorrhage from a leaking blood vessel — cerebral aneurysm.

 • Repairing of blood vessel problems.

 • Brain tumor or cancer.

 • Nerve disorders.

 • Infections in the brain.

Types of Craniotomy

 A craniotomy is done in different ways depending on the type of surgery that follows it. The types of craniotomies are:

 1- A traditional craniotomy where the bone flap or part of the skull is removed and put back in place once the surgery is complete.

 2- A burr hole where only a small hole is made in the skull instead of removing a portion of the skull.

 3- In stereotaxy the inside of the brain is viewed using a computer.

 Craniotomy is done under general anesthesia. However, an awake craniotomy, is done while under general anesthesia. However, an awake craniotomy, is done while the patient is awake—that is using only local anesthesia.

Brain Surgery