26 December,2025 08:20 AM IST | Mumbai | Ritika Gondhalekar
Suman Pokhare after being discharged. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
In a remarkable example of advanced neurosurgical care, doctors at NewEra Hospital saved the life of a 54-year-old woman by treating three life-threatening brain conditions in a single, high-risk surgical sitting. What was initially referred as a single large brain tumor turned out to be an exceptionally complex case involving two brain tumors and a massive subdural hematoma (brain bleed) on opposite sides of the brain - a combination considered extremely rare in neurosurgical practice.
Suman Pokhare, a resident of Kopar Khairane in Navi Mumbai, had been suffering from worsening weakness, imbalance while walking, and difficulty performing daily activities for nearly 15 days. By the time she reached the hospital, she was barely able to stand. Brain imaging revealed a large subacute subdural hematoma causing dangerous compression of the brain, demanding emergency surgery. On the opposite side, scans also showed a large brain tumor, nearly the size of a golf ball, which independently required surgical removal.
Brain tumours occur in approximately four out of one lakh people, and less than 1 per cent of these cases involve tumours on both sides of the brain. The presence of an associated subdural hematoma makes such cases even rarer. Each of these conditions carries a high risk of brain swelling, permanent neurological damage, seizures, paralysis, or even death, and would normally require separate surgical procedures.
Given the severity of her condition, Pokhare was admitted to the ICU and started on emergency treatment, including intravenous medications and supportive care. With time being critical, the medical team decided to proceed with surgery the morning after her admission.
Around mid-November, a five-hour-long, extremely high-risk surgery was performed by Dr Sunil Kutty, consultant neurosurgeon at NewEra Hospital, along with his team. During the procedure, doctors removed the massive subdural hematoma and two brain tumours measuring approximately 4.5 cm and 2 cm in diameter, along with their attachments - all in one operative sitting.
"What made this case exceptional was the presence of three serious brain pathologies at the same time," Dr Kutty said. "In routine practice, we usually deal with one major brain condition at a time. Here, each condition alone could have been fatal. Addressing all three in one surgery required meticulous planning, constant intraoperative decision-making, and extreme precision."
"I was terrified when doctors told me that I wasn't dealing with just a brain bleed, but also two tumours," recalled Pokhare, her voice steady yet filled with emotion. "At the time, even simple movements felt impossible. I could barely walk⦠my body weak and my mind overwhelmed by fear and uncertainty. The diagnosis left me fearing the worst, unsure if I would survive such a complex and life-threatening condition."
But after the medical team explained the entire process step-by-step, her family gained confidence, which they passed on to her. "They explained everything to me with great patience. Each step of the treatment and the high-risk surgery was carefully detailed, helping me understand what lay ahead. Their confidence and compassion slowly replaced my fear with courage and hope. One sentence of my family is still stuck with me - I am too young for any tumour to take me away," Pokhare recalled.
The days following the surgery marked a turning point in Pokhare's life. Gradually, her strength returned. With every passing day, she became increasingly alert, confident, and independent. The simple act of walking again felt nothing short of a miracle. "It was after this surgery that I truly realised what it means to live and what a gift our life is!" said Pokhare with a broad smile and relief in her eyes.
Dr Vibhor Pardasani, neurophysician
âIt's quite remarkable if this level of medical advancement is achieved. Having two pressing tumours along with a subdural hematoma and operating on them in one go takes much courage and excellence. I have not seen such a case in my career so far. Brain tumours and brain bleed as separate conditions are quite common. Also, they sometimes do happen together as well. But generally the surgeons first drain the bleed and then work on the tumour. This case becomes quite rare as all three things were cured in one surgery'
Dr Mahesh Chaudhary, senior consultant, neurosurgery
âThe rare part of this case is the removal of both brain tumours and treating the bleed simultaneously. Multiple tumours can happen at the same time in a patient, and that has been seen often. However, it depends on each treating doctor whether it is necessary and possible to remove it in one go. That part is not seen much'
