Hyderabad, Feb 28: In a rare and dramatic medical event, doctors at Aster Prime Hospitals successfully revived a 43-year-old patient whose heart stopped during a high-risk brain tumor surgery, ultimately completing the operation with full neurological recovery.
The patient, a carpenter from Hyderabad with diabetes, was undergoing the removal of a right-sided brain tumor under the leadership of Dr. P. Ranganadham, HOD & Senior Consultant – Neuro Surgery, assisted by Dr. Praveen Chandra, Dr. Lanka Krishna, senior anesthetists, and a multidisciplinary operating team.
Approximately 60 minutes into surgery, after partial tumor removal, the patient experienced sudden cardiac arrest. Dr. Ranganadham explained, “Performing CPR during open brain surgery presents exceptional challenges, as the patient’s head is elevated to manage intracranial pressure. Our team quickly flattened the operating table to enable effective resuscitation and administered three rounds of defibrillation.”
For nearly an hour, the surgical team worked tirelessly to restart the patient’s heart. Once circulation was restored, the team proceeded to successfully excise the remaining tumor. Intraoperative evaluation by a cardiologist confirmed no major underlying cardiac abnormality.
“This was one of the most intense moments in my 44-year surgical career. Preparedness, teamwork, and adherence to training allowed us to bring a patient back from the brink and safely complete a highly complex procedure,” said Dr. Ranganadham.
By the following morning, the patient was weaned off the ventilator, fully conscious, and neurologically intact, with no signs of left-side weakness—a known risk in right-brain surgeries. The patient was discharged in stable condition and continues to do well during follow-ups.