Kyoto University Hospital Admits Brain Surgery Error
AM730 · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
Kyoto University Hospital said a woman in her 50s suffered devastating injuries after surgeons mistakenly removed normal brain tissue during an operation intended to excise a roughly 3-centimeter benign meningeal tumor. The surgery was carried out in late July by a male neurosurgeon in his 40s, and intraoperative pathology reportedly twice failed to confirm tumor tissue, yet the doctor proceeded based on personal judgment. After the roughly 10-hour operation, MRI found the tumor was still present while the right cerebellar tonsil and areas near the brainstem respiratory center had been badly damaged, leaving the patient unable to breathe on her own. The hospital has apologized, notified authorities, and launched an outside investigation into the medical accident.
Key Points
- The patient had previously lived normally, experiencing only occasional dizziness and unsteady walking before surgery for a deep-seated benign brain tumor that had shown signs of enlargement.
- Hospital officials said the intended target was an approximately 3-centimeter benign tumor in the meninges, but healthy tissue was removed instead during the craniotomy
- During surgery, pathology checks twice indicated the sampled tissue was not clearly tumor, yet the surgeon believed it came from the tumor margin and continued resection.
- The operation lasted about 10 hours, and postoperative MRI showed the tumor remained while the lateral and posterior brainstem region containing respiratory control nerves was injured.
- The hospital said the lead surgeon was experienced, with more than 100 similar operations, while director 高折晃史 pledged treatment, investigation, and preventive measures
Why It Matters
This case highlights the potentially catastrophic consequences when surgical judgment overrides repeated intraoperative diagnostic findings in high-risk neurosurgery. It also raises broader questions about operating-room decision protocols, pathology verification, and institutional oversight at major teaching hospitals.