Dr. Ramin Rak has received glowing reviews from former patients thanks to his superb bedside manner, and he is able to demonstrate this bedside manner while performing awake craniotomies at Neurological Surgery P.C..
Awake craniotomies are necessary when a tumor is located in one of the eloquent cortices intertwined with the tissue. For tumors that are this hard to get to, there is a greater risk to the patient’s motor, sensory, and linguistic abilities. Surgeons need to monitor these abilities to make sure that no damage has occurred during surgery. When Dr. Ramin Rak is operating on patients who are awake, he can ask them to demonstrate that sensory, motor, and linguistic skills are still functioning properly. Surgeons have no way to do this when the patient is asleep, and thus expose the patients to greater risk.
Dr. Ramin Rak is also able to help put patient minds at ease by explaining before awake craniotomies that they will experience no pain as there are no pain fibers. Patients are sedated using intravenous (IV) fluids and then given a local anesthetic on the scalp where the operation will take place. Next, patients are gently woken up so that Dr. Ramin Rak can map out the frontal region. This mapping is possible because of the individual’s reaction to waking up and experiencing the operating room.
Dr. Ramin Rak has shared his expertise related to awake craniotomies and other neurosurgical techniques in various medical journals and books. For instance, Dr. Ramin Rak contributed a chapter on “Endoscopic-Assisted Microneurosurgery” for the book Atlas of Neurosurgical Techniques Additionally, Dr. Ramin Rak has given speeches at numerous professional meetings for medical professionals who wish to learn more about awake craniotomies. Dr. Rak’s patients feel like they can trust him because of this expertise with awake craniotomies.
