Mar 11, 2021
Brain Surgery: Recovery and Risks | Dr. Masel
As with any Brain Surgery, awake brain surgery has the potential for risks and complications. These include bleeding, brain swelling, infection, brain damage or death. Other surgical complications may include seizures, muscle weakness, and problems with memory and thinking.
As it sounds, when people undergo awake brain surgery — also known as an awake craniotomy — they are awake, at least for part of it. Even though the patient is conscious during surgery, they don't feel any pain. The brain doesn't have any pain receptors and a local anesthetic is used to numb the scalp.