KATHMANDU, Jan 1: Doctors at the National Academy of Medical Sciences–Bir Hospital have successfully performed brain surgery on a 103-year-old woman, marking a rare medical achievement.
Prem Kumari Baniya, a resident of Koteshwor-32, underwent surgery after being diagnosed with a brain haemorrhage. The operation was carried out late at night after doctors declared it an emergency.
Baniya was brought to Bir Hospital after suffering from severe headaches. She was admitted to the emergency ward on Saturday, and the surgery was performed at around 2 am the same night.
The surgical team was led by Dr Rajiv Jha, head of the neurosurgery department, and included Dr Samir Aryal, Dr Namrata Khadka, Dr Ayush Bimali and nurse Sindhu Gautam. The procedure took about an hour. According to Dr Jha, the patient’s condition has been gradually improving since the surgery.
Bir Hospital to conduct free brain tumor surgery till June 30
“She is conscious now. She can speak and eat on her own,” said hospital Director Dr Dilip Sharma.
Hospital officials said Baniya was unconscious before being brought to the hospital, and tests confirmed a brain haemorrhage. Given that she was over 100 years old, the surgery involved high risk, making the decision particularly challenging. However, the operation was carried out with the consent of both the medical team and the family, Dr Jha said.
Dr Jha said this was the first time in his neurosurgical career that surgery had been performed on a patient over 100 years old. He added that the successful outcome was a matter of pride for the entire team. “We had performed surgery on a 98-year-old patient two years ago, but this is the first successful case involving someone above 100,” he told Nagarik on Wednesday.
He noted that any surgery in elderly patients carries inherent risks, and brain surgery is especially complex. “During operations on elderly patients, there is a risk of cardiac or pulmonary failure,” he said, adding that the team closely monitored heart function, lungs and other vital organs throughout the procedure to minimise risks.
According to the hospital, Baniya and her family had long trusted Bir Hospital for treatment, and the family was astonished by her recovery after having little hope of survival.
The hospital said performing surgery on patients above 100 years of age is considered extremely rare in medical practice worldwide.
