Muscat: Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) Medical City has an integrated surgical team that has successfully carried out a complex operation to remove a tumour from a patient's brain using the "awake craniotomy" technique — the first such procedure in the Sultanate of Oman.
This technique is regarded as one of the most advanced and complicated neurosurgery procedures, needing extreme precision and close coordination among the medical staff while keeping the patient completely awake throughout the operation.
The operation was led by Dr. Ghassan bin Salem Al Sudairi, Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon, and assisted by a small team of Omani professionals from many disciplines. The operation lasted many hours, during which the crew successfully extracted the tumor while the patient remained awake and engaged in direct communication via numerous neurological tests. This method allowed for the thorough elimination of the tumor without inducing any neurological side effects.
The awake craniotomy approach is employed for tumors close to brain regions important for speech, movement, or cognition. Surgeons can observe neurological activities in real time by keeping the patient completely awake throughout the operation, ensuring the best possible results while avoiding damage to critical areas of the brain, such as those that control speech, motor functions, and sensory perception.
This accomplishment represents a key turning point in the growth and readiness of Oman's national healthcare system. It demonstrates the competence of national medical professionals and emphasizes the preparedness of the country's healthcare institutions to keep up with the newest global medical breakthroughs. It also represents the University Medical City's ambitious goal of achieving regional and global medical leadership through investments in advanced technology and the development of national talent.
