In a remarkable medical achievement, doctors at the Government General Hospital in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, successfully performed an awake craniotomy on 55-year-old A. Ananthalakshmi, allowing her to watch scenes from her favorite film, Adhurs, starring Jr. NTR, during the procedure. Ananthalakshmi had been experiencing numbness in her limbs and persistent headaches, which led to the diagnosis of a 3.3 x 2.7 cm tumor on the left side of her brain.

Choosing the government hospital for the surgery due to the high costs of private treatment, Ananthalakshmi’s case exemplifies how awake craniotomy can provide both medical efficacy and patient comfort. The procedure lasted two and a half hours, during which doctors were able to successfully remove the tumor while keeping the patient calm and engaged. They anticipate her discharge within five days.

Awake craniotomy, traditionally used for epilepsy treatment, is increasingly employed for tumor resections. By keeping the patient awake, neurosurgeons can optimize tumor removal while preserving crucial neurological functions. This innovative approach has recently been highlighted in other successful surgeries, including a similar operation in Uttar Pradesh and a case involving a five-year-old girl at AIIMS Delhi.