Potential Side Effects of Surgery for a Brain Tumor

The risks of surgery for a brain tumor can be serious. The surgeon will review the risks with you before surgery. You may need a blood transfusion if bleeding occurs during or after surgery. In rare cases, you may need a second surgery to remove blood from your brain. These are other risks of brain surgery. You should talk about them with your doctor or nurse.

• Damage to your brain with some loss of function

• Disturbances of your brain’s functioning, which can cause problems in your fluid balance such as fluid overload, also called SIADH, and excessive loss of water, called diabetes insipidus

• Reactions to the anesthesia

• Swelling of the brain, called edema