Kyoto University Hospital medical accident leaves patient ventilator-dependent after wrong-site brain resection
Kyoto University Hospital reported a medical accident in a July brain surgery that removed healthy tissue instead of a tumor, leaving a woman on a ventilator.
A major medical accident at Kyoto University Hospital left a woman in her 50s unable to breathe without mechanical support after surgeons removed healthy brain tissue during a planned tumor operation. The hospital confirmed the error on August 7 and said the procedure, performed at the end of July, was intended to remove a benign lesion near the cerebellum and brainstem. An internal investigation has begun as the patient remains under ventilator management and responsive only by opening her eyes to prompting.
Kyoto University Hospital confirms wrong-site resection
The university hospital disclosed that postoperative imaging showed the targeted tumor remained largely intact while surrounding normal brain tissue had been extensively resected. Hospital officials said the resection deviated from the planned removal zone and constituted a medical accident. The institution publicly apologized to the patient and her family and described the matter as subject to a formal inquiry.
Patient condition and immediate care
According to the hospital, the patient was living a normal life before surgery but is now unable to move her limbs and cannot breathe spontaneously. She remains in critical condition on a mechanical ventilator and is being monitored in a high-dependency setting. Clinicians report she can indicate responses by opening her eyes when addressed, but otherwise has not regained independent respiratory function.
Surgical timeline and intraoperative findings
The operation was carried out in late July after clinicians judged the benign tumor posed increasing risk if left untreated due to its proximity to the brainstem and cerebellum. During the procedure, a tissue sample was taken for rapid microscopic examination, and technicians reported that a clear tumor diagnosis was not evident on the frozen section. The operating surgeon, however, believed the tissue represented the tumor margin and proceeded with resection; subsequent assessments determined that the excised tissue was normal brain rather than the lesion.
Surgeon’s experience and hospital statement
The hospital noted that the lead neurosurgeon has performed more than 2,000 operations and has treated the same anatomical region roughly 100 times without prior recorded errors. Hospital leadership emphasized the surgeon’s experience while acknowledging the seriousness of the outcome and the need for a full fact-finding process. In a statement, the hospital director expressed deep regret and offered apologies to the patient and family, pledging transparent investigation and corrective measures as appropriate.
Investigation committee and planned review
Kyoto University Hospital has established an internal accident investigation committee to determine the sequence of events, including surgical decision-making and intraoperative diagnostic procedures. The review will examine operating room protocols, frozen-section pathology practices, imaging interpretation and team communication during the procedure. Hospital officials said the committee will report its findings and recommendations, and it may involve external experts depending on the scope of identified issues.
Potential implications for neurosurgical practice
Wrong-site resection is a rare but catastrophic complication in neurosurgery, particularly when lesions lie close to critical brainstem structures that control breathing and movement. The hospital’s review is expected to consider technical factors, human factors such as situational awareness, and systems issues like intraoperative verification practices. Observers noted that outcomes of the investigation could prompt changes in intraoperative pathology workflows, imaging confirmation protocols and team briefings to reduce the risk of similar events.
The hospital has committed to keeping the patient’s family informed and to cooperating with any regulatory or professional inquiries that follow. Officials have not yet disclosed whether disciplinary or legal measures will be pursued and said their priority is understanding the cause and preventing recurrence. The investigation’s conclusions will be closely watched by medical institutions and neurosurgical teams nationwide as they assess safety practices around complex brain operations.
