A complex five-hour procedure was carried out by US-trained senior neurosurgeon Dr. Aneela Darbar and her team.
In a major advancement for healthcare in the UAE, King’s College Hospital London Dubai has successfully carried out its first awake craniotomy—a highly specialised brain surgery performed while the patient remains conscious.
The complex five-hour procedure was led by US-trained senior neurosurgeon Dr. Aneela Darbar, along with a multidisciplinary neuro-anaesthesia and operating theatre team.
The patient, a 35-year-old individual experiencing seizures caused by a brain tumour in the left motor cortex, remained awake and responsive throughout the surgery. This enabled doctors to continuously monitor critical brain functions in real time and reduce the risk of damage to areas controlling movement.
Before the operation, the medical team used advanced functional MRI imaging to evaluate the tumour’s proximity to vital brain regions. Because of its location in the eloquent cortex and unclear boundaries, an awake craniotomy was chosen to ensure greater precision and patient safety.
During the procedure, intraoperative electrical stimulation was used to map brain function. The patient was asked to perform simple tasks such as moving limbs and making facial expressions, allowing surgeons to precisely identify and preserve critical motor areas while removing the tumour.
Awake craniotomy is regarded as one of the most advanced neurosurgical techniques, especially for tumours located near regions that control speech and movement. By keeping the patient awake, surgeons can obtain real-time feedback, which helps significantly reduce the risk of long-term neurological complications.
“Awake brain surgery allows us to operate with a level of precision that would not otherwise be possible,” said Dr. Aneela Darbar. “Being able to continuously assess brain function during surgery enables us to protect critical areas and improve patient outcomes.”
This milestone underscores the growing capabilities of King’s College Hospital London Dubai in delivering advanced neurosurgical care, highlighting the importance of close collaboration between surgical, anaesthesia, and imaging teams.
The achievement also reinforces Dubai’s position as a regional hub for complex medical treatments, enabling patients to access world-class care locally without the need to travel abroad.
