Media Release
Udupi, Sept 24: A child who underwent major brain surgery at just 15 days old is today a healthy, cheerful three-year-old preparing to start preschool, following early intervention, specialised surgical expertise and coordinated multidisciplinary care at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal.
The baby was brought to the hospital at 15 days of age with a markedly enlarged head, raising immediate concern about an underlying neurological condition. An MRI scan of the brain revealed a large intracranial mass, highly suggestive of a high-grade tumour.
For the treating team, the diagnosis posed an exceptional challenge: the patient was barely two weeks old, and the tumour was already very large.
Operating on a newborn is technically demanding under any circumstances, and even more so when dealing with a tumour of this size. Because a baby of this age has a very small blood volume, even a relatively small amount of blood loss can have serious consequences, making both the surgery and counselling the anxious parents a formidable undertaking. With the parents’ full understanding of the risks involved, the team decided to proceed.
The operation proved as difficult as anticipated, but the neurosurgeons were able to achieve complete excision of the tumour. Following surgery, the infant was shifted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for intensive post-operative care. Despite the difficult start, the baby responded well, showing steady signs of recovery, and was discharged in a stable condition a week after the operation.
The child remained under regular follow-up, with the team closely monitoring his neurological development and overall growth. Three years on, he is doing remarkably well and is now ready to take his next big step — starting preschool.
The management of brain tumours in newborns and children requires far more than surgery alone. It calls for a coordinated, multidisciplinary effort spanning neurosurgery, neonatology, paediatric oncology, intensive care and rehabilitation.
At Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, this care was delivered by a dedicated Department of Neurosurgery headed by Dr Raghavendra Nayak, together with the Neonatology team led by Dr Sheila S Mathai, Paediatric Oncology services under Dr Vasudev Bhat, and comprehensive rehabilitation facilities. From a 15-day-old facing a massive brain tumour to a cheerful three-year-old preparing to enter preschool, his journey stands as a testament to early intervention, teamwork, resilience and hope.
Reflecting on the case, Dr Raghavendra Nayak, professor and head, Department of Neurosurgery, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, said: "Surgery in a newborn is technically very challenging, especially when the tumour is very large. Because the baby has a very small blood volume, even a relatively small amount of blood loss can have serious consequences. Counselling the parents is also a major challenge in such situations. Fortunately, the parents were very cooperative and understood the risks involved. We decided to proceed with surgery. The surgery was very stormy, but we were able to achieve complete excision of the tumor."
Dr Sudhakar Kantipudi, chief operating officer, MAHE Teaching Hospitals, said: "This case reflects what our institution is built to do, bring specialised departments together around a single patient, at the moment it matters most. A newborn with a large brain tumour is among the most complex challenges in medicine, and an outcome like this is only possible when neurosurgery, neonatology, paediatric oncology, critical care, and rehabilitation work as one team, supported by the right infrastructure. We are deeply proud of our clinicians and care staff, and we share in the joy of this family as their child begins preschool."
From a critically ill newborn to a happy three-year-old heading to preschool, the little boy’s journey stands as a reminder of what timely intervention, teamwork and specialised care can achieve.