Mater Dei Surgeons Perform Malta’s First Awake Brain Surgery

Specialists at Mater Dei successfully performed Malta’s first-ever awake brain surgery – an awake craniotomy – with the patient conscious throughout the procedure.

An awake craniotomy is a neurological procedure where the patient remains conscious during surgery, allowing surgeons to continuously monitor and test their brain functions while removing tumours and lesions.

This allows surgery to take place without damaging critical brain functions.

Health Minister Jo Etienne Abela said that Malta now has a specialised team at Mater Dei capable of performing these operations, which means patients can receive such treatment without having to travel overseas.

“This procedure facilitates the healing process while reducing the time between surgery and follow-up treatments such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy, all while maintaining the same high standards of care,” he said.

“I would like to thank Dr Jasmina Djukic and the team of professionals at Mater Dei Hospital. This leap in healthcare quality means patients are now benefiting from receiving treatment in Malta itself, without the need to be sent abroad. At the same time, our specialists gain further expertise and continue to improve care for future generations.”