Fine Line Between Safety And Catastrophe: Neurosurgeon

Please tell us something about your training.
My entire medical education was at the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS). After some years of doing my senior residency in general surgery I decided then to start neurosurgical training.

What is neurosurgery beneficial for?
A vast number of  diseases  are corrected by surgery. Starting with the spine, we have slipped discs, dislocations, fractures, tumours, vascular malformations, congenital deformities, to name a few. For the brain there is surgery for tumours, head injuries, brain haemorrhage, brain bypass surgery, aneurysm etc, various endoscopic surgeries within the ventricles or the skull base, neuromodulation as for treating Parkinson’s disease, pain management, incontinence management, epilepsy treatment, depression, obsessive compulsive neurosis. 

What should the mindset of young people wanting to get into this profession be like?
 It is a long haul. It takes one 11-12 years after school to become a neurosurgeon. There are many hurdles on the way, many exams and many entrance tests. Be prepared for disappointment. You have to study hard for  MBBS. The rest is an apprentice system and, therefore, far more interesting and gratifying.

The growth prospects?
Endless. We also need to continue to update our skills and knowledge. But for me that is the attraction. I am on a high when I have done something new, however small or simple it may be.
 
The challenges?
That there is a very fine line between safety and catastrophe, the sometimes almost instantaneous  interval between life and death. Challenging operations which one wanted to do when younger, do not hold as much attraction, but with your experience, these are the very cases which land at your doorsteps, like it or not