Confusion after pituatry surgery

[Worriedaboutmydad]

Hi everyone, I am worried sick about my dad as I catch the plane tonigh to see him tomorrow morning. My dad is 72 years old and has recently undergone a surgery for a non active pituatry tumor. The doctor told us that the surgery went well but four hours later my dad had two seizures which lasted less than 30 seconds each. The doctors did CT scan and angiography and said he has subarachnoid heomherage but no know cause such as aneurism so they removed the bleeding in the brain with stringe from the spinal cord

My mum and my brother asked him a couple of questions on day 1 after surgery and he was able to answe them correctly but today on day 2 after surgery he is extremely confused and not opening his eyes at all. He didn't recognise my brother and thought he was his brother. He is oblivious to he fact that he is in a hospital and not in a ground with his brother.

I am extremely worried and starting to wonder if surgery was a good idea. Although the tumor grew by 2mm in six months so it didn't feel like there was abt other option. If anyone has gone through similar experience can they please share it? Is it normal to be this confused after a surgical procedure?

[rumpled]

I am so sorry to hear about your dad.

In some cases, the tumors themselves explode and cause a stroke.  

In my opinion two factors influence outcome, the surgeon's skill and the tumor itself. You cannot control the second.  If your father had an invasive tumor and it was wrapped around say, the carotid, then it can do all sorts of things and it would have caused severe issues to stay.

It would be impossible to predict how he would be without the surgery... Still it is hard when there are such complications.

[Worriedaboutmydad]

Hi rumpled, thank you so much for your response. The  surgeon has over 12 years of experience and I personally know two of his previous patients of the same age, who went through pituatry surgery and are doing fine. We were confident he was capable to perform this procedure well.

His condition has worsened As of day before yesterday. He had a stroke which has paralysed his right arm and right leg and he is unable to speak. The doctor did a MRI and said he has a small infarct which has affected his right arm and right leg but there is no probable cause for him to loose his speech. One of the consultants said he has swelling in his frontal lobe which could be one of the reasons. There are no pituatry centres in India so he is in neurosurgery department of a good hospital. I am really concerned that my dad may be permanently disabled for a surgery that should have been straightforward. I wish we hadn't gone down this road and left the tumor alone.

[rumpled]

Your dad had some rare complications IMHO.  I hope your dad was with a very experienced surgeon.

a Non- functioning tumor generally has to be removed quickly as it keeps growing.

I hope you are under the care of a pituitary center.

Sorry sick replies are delayed.