KEY POINTS:
CANBERRA - John James lay on the operating table, a hole in his head.
The Canberra man had the unique experience of being awake while neurosurgeons drained the blood out of a potentially fatal aneurysm that had formed in a vein inside his brain.
The medical team believe his operation was a world first, based on the combination of the high technology equipment used, the tiny "keyhole" incision they made and the fact James was conscious throughout the procedure. "As far as I'm aware reading the literature, this kind of thing done as a package has never been done before," Canberra Hospital neurosurgeon Dr Vini Khurana said.
James, 78, had suffered blackouts and problems with his vision. Scans found an abnormal tangle of veins and arteries in his brain.
- AAP
