Frequently Asked Questions

Dr. Keval Shukla is a highly qualified and experienced Neurosurgeon based in Mumbai Central. He specializes in brain and spine surgery with a focus on minimally invasive techniques that ensure faster recovery and better outcomes for patients.

His areas of expertise include:

• Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
• Brain Tumour Surgery (Neuro Oncology)
• Neuro Trauma (Head & Spinal Injuries)
• Vascular Neurosurgery (Aneurysms, AVMs)
• Epilepsy Surgery
• Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery

You should consult a neurosurgeon if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• Severe or persistent headaches, especially with vomiting
• Neck pain or back pain radiating to arms or legs
• Numbness, weakness or tingling in limbs
• Difficulty in walking, balance problems
• Seizures or blackouts
• Head or spine injury after an accident
• Sudden vision changes or speech difficulty
• Diagnosed brain or spinal tumor

This is one of the most common questions patients ask:

• Neurologist — A doctor who diagnoses and treats neurological conditions with medicines (non-surgical). They treat conditions like migraines, Parkinson's disease, neuropathy.
• Neurosurgeon — A surgeon who performs operations on the brain, spine, and nervous system. Dr. Keval Shukla is a neurosurgeon — trained to treat conditions requiring surgical intervention.

Modern neurosurgery, especially minimally invasive techniques, is significantly safer than traditional open surgery. Dr. Keval Shukla uses advanced tools such as neuro-navigation, intraoperative monitoring, and high-definition endoscopes to minimize risks.

General risks in any surgery include bleeding, infection, or anaesthesia reactions — but with proper evaluation and a skilled surgeon, these are kept to a minimum. Dr. Shukla thoroughly evaluates every patient before recommending surgery and explains all risks clearly during consultation.

Yes, absolutely. Dr. Keval Shukla encourages patients to seek second opinions — especially for major surgeries like brain tumour removal or complex spine procedures. A second opinion helps you feel confident and informed about your treatment decision.

Many patients come to Dr. Shukla for a second opinion and receive a detailed, honest assessment. In some cases, surgery may not be immediately required, and conservative treatment options are explored first.

Yes. Dr. Keval Shukla offers both in-person consultation at his Mumbai Central clinic and teleconsultation (video/phone call) for patients who are unable to visit in person — including patients from other cities or those with limited mobility.

For teleconsultation, please send your MRI / CT scan reports and medical history in advance so Dr. Shukla can review them before your appointment.

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS) is a modern surgical technique where spine conditions are treated through very small incisions (less than 2 cm) using specialized tools and real-time X-ray guidance — unlike traditional open surgery that requires large cuts and muscle damage.

• Less blood loss during surgery
• Smaller incision — minimal scarring
• Shorter hospital stay (1–3 days)
• Faster return to normal life
• Lower risk of infection
• Less postoperative pain

In many cases, yes — mild to moderate slip disc can be managed with physiotherapy, pain medication, and lifestyle changes. However, surgery becomes necessary when:

• Pain is severe and not relieved by medicines
• Numbness or weakness is progressing in arms/legs
• Bladder or bowel control is affected
• The disc is compressing the spinal cord

Recovery time depends on the type of spine surgery:

• Endoscopic / MISS Discectomy: Walk same day, return to desk work in 1–2 weeks
• Lumbar Decompression: Hospital stay 2–3 days, full recovery in 4–6 weeks
• Spinal Fusion: Hospital stay 3–5 days, full recovery in 3–6 months
• Cervical Disc Surgery: Return to light work in 2–4 weeks

Endoscopic Spine Surgery uses a thin camera (endoscope) inserted through a small tube to visualize and treat spinal problems. It is the most minimally invasive form of spine surgery available today.

Ideal candidates include patients with:

• Single or multi-level disc herniation
• Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
• Foraminal stenosis (nerve compression at exit point)
• Recurrent disc herniation (failed previous surgery)

Spinal cord tumors can be benign or malignant and may cause:

• Progressive back or neck pain (especially at night)
• Weakness or numbness in arms or legs
• Difficulty walking or loss of balance
• Bladder or bowel dysfunction
• Pain radiating along nerve pathways

For many spine conditions like mild disc herniation or early spondylosis, physiotherapy, core strengthening exercises, and posture correction can be very effective and may delay or even eliminate the need for surgery.

However, if there is significant nerve compression, spinal instability, or progressive weakness, surgery may be unavoidable. Dr. Shukla will always recommend the least invasive, most effective treatment pathway for each individual patient.

Spine surgery successfully resolves most problems, but the underlying degenerative spine condition can progress over time. The chances of recurrence depend on:

• The type of surgery performed
• Patient's age, weight, and lifestyle
• Post-surgery physiotherapy adherence
• Avoiding heavy lifting and bad posture

Early warning signs of a brain tumour can vary depending on its size and location, but common signs include:

• Persistent headaches — especially in the morning or with vomiting
• New-onset seizures (fits) in an adult
• Progressive weakness in one side of the body
• Sudden vision, hearing, or speech changes
• Memory problems, personality changes
• Loss of balance or coordination

Success rates depend on the type and grade of the tumor:

• Benign tumors (meningioma, acoustic neuroma): 90–95% successful complete removal
• Pituitary adenoma: 85–95% success with endoscopic approach
• Malignant tumors (GBM): Surgery + chemo + radiation significantly extends survival
• Metastatic brain tumors: Surgery improves quality of life and symptom control

Awake Craniotomy is a specialized brain surgery technique where the patient is kept awake (but pain-free and calm) during part of the operation. This is done when the tumor is near critical areas of the brain that control speech, movement, or vision.

By keeping the patient awake, Dr. Shukla can test brain functions in real-time while removing the tumor — ensuring no vital function is accidentally damaged.

• The patient feels no pain (local anaesthesia is used)
• The patient is asked to talk or move during surgery
• Allows maximum safe tumour removal
• Highly successful in experienced hands

Hydrocephalus (commonly called "water on the brain") is a condition where excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) accumulates inside the skull, increasing pressure on the brain.

Symptoms include headache, vomiting, blurred vision, and in children — abnormal head enlargement. Treatment options include:

• VP Shunt Surgery — A thin tube drains the excess fluid to the abdomen
• Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy (ETV) — A minimally invasive procedure creating a new drainage pathway

Recovery after brain surgery varies by type of procedure and the patient's overall health:

• Small endoscopic brain procedures: 3–5 days hospital stay, 2–4 weeks recovery
• Standard craniotomy (tumor removal): 5–7 days hospital, 6–8 weeks recovery
• Complex surgeries (aneurysm, AVM): 7–14 days hospital, 3–6 months full recovery

Post-surgery rehabilitation including physiotherapy, speech therapy (if needed) and cognitive rehabilitation plays a key role in recovery.

Yes! The Endoscopic Trans-Sphenoidal Surgery is the gold standard for pituitary tumour removal. Using a thin endoscope passed through one nostril, Dr. Shukla can directly visualize and remove the pituitary tumour without any external incision or scarring.

• No cuts on face or head
• Hospital stay 2–3 days only
• Fast recovery — return to work in 1–2 weeks
• High cure rate for hormone-secreting tumors

Trigeminal Neuralgia is a condition causing sudden, severe, electric shock-like pain on one side of the face — often triggered by eating, speaking or touching the face. It is caused by a blood vessel pressing on the trigeminal nerve inside the brain.

Microvascular Decompression (MVD) surgery is highly effective — it separates the offending blood vessel from the nerve, providing long-lasting or permanent relief in over 85% of patients.

Head injuries from road accidents are medical emergencies. Here is what to do immediately:

• Call emergency services immediately (112 in India)
• Do NOT move the patient if spinal injury is suspected
• Keep the person still and calm
• Monitor breathing and consciousness level
• Do NOT give food, water or medication
• Reach the nearest hospital with a neurosurgery unit immediately

Even after a "minor" head injury, seek emergency care immediately if the person experiences:

• Loss of consciousness (even briefly)
• Repeated vomiting
• Worsening headache
• Confusion or disorientation
• Seizures
• Weakness or numbness in limbs
• Clear fluid from nose or ears
• Unequal pupil sizes

A Subdural Hematoma (SDH) is a blood clot that forms between the brain and its outer covering (dura), usually after a head injury. It can be:

• Acute SDH — Develops within hours, usually requires emergency surgery (craniotomy or burr hole)
• Subacute SDH — Develops over days to weeks, may need surgery
• Chronic SDH — Develops slowly over weeks/months, often treatable with a small burr hole procedure under local anaesthesia

Recovery depends on whether the spinal cord injury is complete (total loss of function) or incomplete (partial function preserved). For incomplete injuries, with early surgery and intensive rehabilitation, significant recovery is possible.

• Early surgical decompression of the spinal cord is critical
• Spinal stabilization surgery prevents further damage
• Intensive physiotherapy and occupational therapy follow surgery
• Newer techniques like nerve grafting are being explored

Intracranial Pressure (ICP) monitoring involves placing a small sensor inside the skull to continuously measure the pressure inside the brain. It is used in patients with:

• Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Unconscious patients after head trauma
• Brain swelling (cerebral edema)
• Large brain hemorrhages

Monitoring ICP helps the ICU team and Dr. Shukla make critical decisions about treatment — including whether emergency surgery to relieve pressure is needed.

Epilepsy surgery is considered when:

• Seizures are not controlled despite trying 2 or more anti-epileptic medications (AEDs)
• A clear seizure focus is identifiable on MRI or EEG
• The seizure focus is in an area of brain that can be safely removed
• Quality of life is significantly affected by frequent seizures

Like all brain surgeries, epilepsy surgery carries some risk — but the benefits in carefully selected patients usually far outweigh them. Dr. Shukla's thorough pre-surgical evaluation and use of intraoperative brain mapping significantly reduce risks.

• Extensive neuropsychological testing done before surgery
• Wada test / fMRI to identify language and memory areas
• Intraoperative cortical mapping to protect vital brain functions
• Risks are discussed openly with every patient and family

Yes — for many patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, surgery can result in complete, permanent freedom from seizures. Success rates vary by condition:

• Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE) with MTS: 70–90% seizure-free
• Focal Cortical Dysplasia: 50–70% seizure-free
• Hypothalamic Hamartoma: 80%+ seizure-free with right approach

VNS (Vagus Nerve Stimulation) is a neuromodulation therapy for patients with epilepsy who are not suitable candidates for brain resection surgery. A small device (like a pacemaker) is implanted under the chest skin and sends regular electrical pulses to the brain via the vagus nerve in the neck — helping reduce seizure frequency.

• Reduces seizure frequency by 50%+ in many patients
• Does not require brain surgery
• Device is adjustable and reversible
• Suitable for multiple types of epilepsy

Stereo-EEG (SEEG) is an advanced invasive brain mapping technique where thin electrode wires are precisely placed deep into the brain (using a robot or stereotactic frame) to accurately locate the seizure-generating area that cannot be found by scalp EEG or MRI alone.

It is done in a 2-stage process: first the electrodes are placed, seizures are recorded for 5–10 days, and then the electrodes are removed and surgery is planned based on the findings.

A brain aneurysm is a bulge or balloon in a blood vessel in the brain. Most are silent until they rupture (bleed), causing a sudden, severe "thunderclap headache" — often described as the worst headache of one's life.

Signs of a ruptured aneurysm include:

• Sudden severe headache (unlike any before)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stiff neck
• Loss of consciousness
• Sensitivity to light

An AVM is a tangle of abnormal blood vessels connecting arteries directly to veins, bypassing normal brain tissue. AVMs can bleed, causing seizures, headaches, or stroke-like symptoms.

Treatment options include:

• Microsurgical Excision — Complete removal, highest cure rate
• Stereotactic Radiosurgery (Gamma Knife) — For small, deep AVMs
• Endovascular Embolization — Blocking blood supply before surgery

• Clipping (Surgical) — A microsurgical procedure where a metal clip is placed at the base of the aneurysm to block blood flow into it. Provides permanent, definitive cure. Best for large or complex aneurysms.
• Coiling (Endovascular) — A catheter is passed through blood vessels from the groin to fill the aneurysm with platinum coils, preventing rupture. Less invasive, but may require repeat treatment over years.

Not all brain hemorrhages (bleeds) require surgery. Surgery is recommended when:

• The blood clot is large and causing dangerous brain compression
• The hemorrhage is in the cerebellum (back of brain)
• The patient's condition is worsening despite medicines
• There is an underlying cause (aneurysm, AVM) that needs treatment

Surgical options include open craniotomy, minimally invasive clot evacuation, or endoscopic approaches depending on the clot location and patient condition.

Booking an appointment is easy:

• Click the "Get Appointment" button on this website
• Call the clinic directly on the contact number provided
• WhatsApp the clinic with your name, number, and concern
• Email your MRI / CT reports for a pre-consultation review

Consultation fees are available upon inquiry at the clinic. Regarding insurance:

• Most major health insurance policies cover neurosurgery procedures
• The clinic's billing team helps with insurance pre-authorization
• Government schemes (Ayushman Bharat / PMJAY) may cover eligible patients
• EMI options may be available for surgical procedures

To make the most of your consultation, please bring:

• All MRI / CT scan films and reports (not just the reports — the actual films)
• Previous hospital discharge summaries
• List of all current medications with dosage
• Blood test reports (if any recent ones)
• Previous surgical reports (if any prior brain or spine surgery)
• A list of your symptoms and how long you have had them

Hospital stay varies by procedure:

• Endoscopic spine / disc surgery: 1–2 days
• Minimally invasive spine fusion: 3–4 days
• Brain tumour surgery: 5–7 days
• Pituitary tumour (endoscopic): 2–3 days
• Aneurysm surgery: 7–10 days
• Emergency trauma surgery: Depends on injury severity

Yes, absolutely. Many patients travel from across India and even abroad to consult with Dr. Keval Shukla. The clinic's team will assist with:

• Initial teleconsultation so you can get an opinion before travelling
• Guidance on accommodation near the hospital in Mumbai Central
• Coordination with local doctors for post-surgery follow-up in your home city
• Sending post-surgery reports and prescriptions to your local doctor

Yes. Dr. Keval Shukla is available for neurosurgical emergencies including road accident head injuries, brain hemorrhages, spinal cord injuries, and acute neurological deterioration. For emergencies:

• Go directly to the hospital emergency department
• Call the emergency contact number of the clinic
• Request the on-call neurosurgery team to contact Dr. Shukla