Mr Chandrasekaran Kaliaperumal

I was diagnosed with Chiari malformation by Professor Jon Stone at DCN Royal Infirmary Edinburgh following an MRI scan in June last year. Professor Stone referred me to Dr Kaliaperumal and explained that decompression surgery would be required, as I was experiencing symptoms such as balance issues, nystagmus, constant neck pain, swallowing difficulties, and sleep apnoea. I met Dr Kaliaperumal at the pre-operative clinic along with my wife and daughter. At that time, I was extremely nervous and lacked confidence, as I had been advised by other specialists that surgery would only prevent further deterioration and would not improve my existing symptoms. Additionally, this was going to be my first-ever surgery. Dr Kaliaperumal was calm, composed, and reassuring. From the moment he entered the room, he instilled a sense of confidence in me. He explained the procedure in a way that was simple and easy to understand, reassuring me that I would feel better after the surgery and that my symptoms were typical for patients with Chiari malformation. He introduced me to the concept of creative visualisation, encouraging me to imagine how my life would improve after surgery. He also clearly stated that he would not have planned the surgery if he did not believe I would benefit from it, which greatly boosted my confidence. The surgery was successful as a result of expert care provided by Dr Kaliaperumal and his team of surgeons and anaesthetic doctors, Post surgery the neck pain I had been experiencing for over a year resolved immediately. I remained stable under observation for two days at the Department of Clinical Neurosciences (DCN), Royal Infirmary. After two days, I began to experience complications, including breathing difficulties, problems with walking, swallowing difficulties, and sensitivity in both hands. At that point, I feared that I might not recover. Following careful observation, Dr Kaliaperumal and his team arranged a post-operative MRI, which identified white cord syndrome affecting brainstem function. During this challenging phase, I remained motivated by visualising my recovery and by trusting that I was in the hands of an experienced and capable team. Due to the rapid diagnosis, I received timely and appropriate multidisciplinary care. The Speech and Language Therapy team supported my swallowing difficulties; I was treated for chest congestion that developed due to aspiration. The Physiotherapy team helped with walking and balance, while Occupational Therapy assisted me with daily activities. The Dietetics team ensured I received adequate nutrition while I was fed via an NG tube due to the high risk of aspiration. ENT specialists closely monitored the progress of my vocal cords. Most importantly, the nurses and support staff in OPD 7 at DCN were exceptional. They consistently ensured that all teams were updated on my progress and provided care with genuine empathy and compassion. Throughout my recovery, Dr Kaliaperumal closely monitored my condition and ensured that I was placed on the correct medications at the right time. After nearly two months of inpatient care at the Royal Infirmary, I was discharged with confidence in my recovery. Even after discharge, Dr Kaliaperumal continued to check in on my progress and address any concerns I had during my recovery. Now, two and a half months after surgery, I feel immensely grateful to Dr Kaliaperumal and his entire team at DCN for the exceptional care I received. Both my pre-surgery symptoms and the post-operative complications have improved tremendously. I am confident that proceeding with the surgery was the right decision, as I now enjoy a significantly better quality of life than I did before the operation.

After being diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia in 2018 (aged 28) by my GP and put on the typical medications given to treat this awful condition, my life slowly spiralled. Periods of remission shortened, the medication stopped working. At first the pain was so random and far between that I thought I’d manage it or it’d mysteriously go away as quickly as it appeared. But surviving this condition while trying to raise two small kids and maintain any sense of my previous self seemed like an uphill battle impossible to continue. down the research rabbit hole I went to educate myself as much as possible on this mysterious and little spoken about condition, everything I would mention to the a GP would fall on deaf ears-requesting neurology appointments, trying something new, supplements, scans anything. Things progressed over the years bringing me the worst year in 2024 the flare from the winter 23 didnt ever let up and the shocks started to exceed 6-7mins with barely any let up in between, I had lost all hope. Basic day to day tasks seemed impossible when I was incapacitated with pain and dependent on family for care. Stepping outside or even slightly moving could ruin a pain free day, watching my kids brace themselves for the pain mummy would be in was truly the lowest points in my life.By June I was ready to no longer be here, through family encouragement i went to A&E in unbearable pain. I went through the usual hurdles explaining the typical meds would not work, being filled with the wrong medication made me sick triggering more facial pain. Seeing the wrong types of doctors, them not truly understanding the nature of the condition and feeling like I was losing my mind. I needed a neurologist or a neurosurgeon and wasn’t prepared to leave until I had seen one, and Im grateful for my stubbornness. Without it I wouldn’t have met Dr , he walked into the room with an air of calmness and kindness. He confirmed what I knew and filled in the gaps I didn’t, went over my history and scans confirming they had been read wrongly previously. You instantly feel his passion for his work and his endless interest in his patients wellbeing is blatant.We only spoke minutes when he confirmed he would take me as a candidate for MVD (micro vascular decompression) we decided to up the meds until the day of the Op and I left. I was elated to have been heard and understood, yet still in serious pain -the power of Dr kaliaperumals positivity carried me through and the Op came around in the August. The process from arriving at DCN at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary was faultless, I arrived early 7am checked in and the nurses had me change and got me comfortable. They talked me through the plans and then I met all the brains behind this incredible team. My partner was by my side up until the walk to surgery. The same smiling lady who put me to sleep woke me up to my mum and my partner And that was it. It was over. I spent the next 8/9 days under the care of the nurses in the DCN. I was quite sick which is typical after the surgery and was experiencing vertigo and extreme dizziness..but no pain! I could touch my face, I remember when I was up I wanted to really brush my teeth, what a Win! It was an emotional experience to say the least and I will be indebted to those unbelievable ladies forever. Katie and Fiona especially lifted me in those moments I struggled being away from the kids. Their kindness had such an impact on me. From the cleaners, porters, physios, reception staff, the nurses and Doctors and surgeons who don’t seem to ever go home. They care so deeply about their jobs and it really shows, I can’t speak highly enough of them all. Forever grateful. It’s been 5months since my Operation, the early days were rough in that I under estimated the healing process, but taking the time to slow down gave me the opportunity to heal properly mentally and physically from this condition. I’ve started Therapy and recommend anyone with TN to. While I have had a couple of bouts of pain, overall my life has changed drastically shocked by how my life has changed since last year. I remain under Dr kaliaperumals care and he will see me if I have any concerns or questions. It’s such a weight of in itself to know he is there should I need him. I cannot recommend him or this operation enough to anyone suffering with TN , the other options just don’t work and the wealth of knowledge this man has is worth its weight in gold. Thankyou will never be enough! Emma x

I would like to express my deepest and most sincere gratitude for the care, professionalism, and exceptional skill you demonstrated throughout my treatment and surgery. My journey with trigeminal neuralgia began suddenly and unexpectedly. What initially felt like intermittent facial pain quickly developed into relentless, severe attacks that affected every aspect of my life. The pain was overwhelming, exhausting, and at times completely unbearable. Simple daily activities became impossible, and the condition gradually took away my independence, peace of mind, and hope. From the very first consultation, you approached my case with remarkable calm, confidence, and compassion. You took the time to listen carefully, explained everything clearly, and treated me not just as a patient, but as a human being who was suffering deeply. This alone brought me a sense of reassurance that I had not felt in a long time. The decision to proceed with surgery was life-changing. The operation itself, as well as the care before and after it, exceeded all my expectations. Thanks to your extraordinary expertise and precision, I was given something I feared I might never experience again – relief from pain and the chance to live a normal life. I truly believe that you saved my life. Not only by performing a technically difficult outstanding procedure, but by restoring my dignity, my strength, and my future. You are, without any doubt, the best neurosurgeon I have ever met, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have been under your care. Please accept my heartfelt thanks for everything you have done for me. I will remain forever grateful for your dedication, your humanity, and your exceptional talent.

I have been a patient of Mr. Kaliaperumal and the team at DCN in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary since Sept 2024 after being diagnosed with a Grade II meningioma. My diagnosis was unexpected, as are most brain tumours, but the response to my scan was rapid in terms of appointments and leading up to surgery. We realised quickly that some changes in eyesight and migraines for over 5 years were associated with the tumour and being told that there was a cause helped understand why I had been ill several times. I was initially under the care of Forth Valey Hospital where I was first diagnosed but was transferred immediately to the DCN team. My first appointment was with the neurosurgeon team including Mr Kaliaperumal where they provided myself and my family with an excellent overview of the process leading up to my surgery, medication required to support surgery, surgery itself and my expected recovery. My wife has a background in science and biology and Mr. Kaliperumal was patient in answering her questions but also giving advice on not ‘googleing’ for information to rely on him and his team if we had any questions or support was needed. We can honestly say that we did not feel excluded in understanding what was happening and understood why things were required such as steroid treatment, CAT scans, additional MRI etc. We have always been supported to understand my scans, changes between scans (even to my most recent post op scan) and requirements for medication. On the day of surgery we met with Mr. Kaliaperumal, again he was reassuring of the process. We met probably 5 of the surgical and nursing team that morning and everyone took time to sit with me to discuss the process. To be honest I didn’t take much in but that contact and support was invaluable to my wife who stayed for the entire day. Post surgery the entire team came onto see me and I still remember their astonishment at the actual size of my tumour and that they were able to remove 98% of it. I continued to see Mr. Kaliaperumal daily during my stay in hospital and always received positive assurance of my recovery. He was patient enough to again sit with me. I was allowed home within 5 days post-surgery which was quite honestly a credit to the team and particularly Mr. Kaliaperumal who performed the surgery. Since my surgery there have been multiple visits back to see Mr. Kaliaperumal at the RIE. I have also had radiotherapy as a preventative measure. Whilst the journey has been long (and still ongoing) I am recovering well. When visiting the RIE Mr. Kaliaperumal was available and we spoke to him several times when assurance or support was needed as things maybe took a slight change in direction. Each time he has genuinely remembered me and shook my hand on each occasion being pleased to see me It seems too simple to say but Mr. Kaliaperumal literally saved my life. His skill is beyond expectations and the support within the DCN team is amazing beyond surgery. His advice to me most recently has stuck a cord in that I have the opportunity for a positive outlook on life post brain tumour. But like all opportunities I need to shape that myself and need to ensure that I do everything to support for my wider health, consideration of diet and consideration of my mental wellbeing. It is clear on talking to Mr. Kaliaperumal that surgery and treatment are only effective if the patient sees the opportunity and it is something I feel strongly about after my experience.

After 2 years of pain, at the age of 52, I was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation. After a couple of MRI's on my head, neck and spine, I was referred to Mr Kaliaperumal as an NHS patient and had my initial consultation. He immediately came across as kind, caring, and most of all extremely knowledgeable and professional. He showed me my MRI results and took time to explain everything clearly so that I understood what he was telling me. He asked me lots of questions and he listened to everything I was telling him. In short he said "this is what's happening to you....I need to fix this....this is what I'm going to do!" His directness filled me with so much confidence in him. I came out of the consultation feeling like a great weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I was then booked in for decompression surgery to resolve all the issues I was having. The risks were also explained very clearly to me but I didn't focus on those at all due to my faith in Mr Kaliaperumal's abilities. Mr pre-op appointment at The Royal went well. The various staff I met were also very nice and very professional and I went home on this day feeling confident. On the morning of my appointment I was made to feel very much at ease by the nurse who started getting me prepared for the op. The anaesthetist also came out to introduce himself and explain his part in the op. Although I was woozy after the op, I remember Mr Kaliaperumal speaking to me and advising that the op had went to plan and he could already see the built up spinal fluid starting to flow. I was in the Royal for 3 nights after the op. I slept most of that time but I do remember all the nurses I met were very kind and efficient. I continued my recovery at home and was very surprised to receive a phone call from Mr Kaliaperumal just over a week later, to discuss how I was doing, as I know he's a very busy man. As the weeks went by, all the pain and symptoms that I had been suffering from disappeared. I had a follow up MRI 3 months after my op and today Mr Kaliaperumal phoned me to advise that my operation was successful ("text book" in his words) my spine is back to normal and no further treatment or MRI's will be required. I will be forever grateful to Mr Kaliaperumal for his knowledge and skills. I finally have my life back and will always be glad that I had the operation as I have a lot of years in front of me.

Mr. Chandru Kaliaperumal was the chief Neuro surgeon who attended on my husband when he was admitted to The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for an emergency craniotomy in september 2024. It was especially challenging for us as it was our first day of our vacation in Edinburgh. Mr. Chandru and his team provided superb care from diagnosis to post surgery. Mr. Chandru is a great listner and very empathetic. We have never met a surgeon who listened to the spouse and the children as well which was so essential to the patient care as well as the care takers. He was also very wholistic in his approach. He had a unique calmness in him which calmed me in that very stressful situation. His follow thru was superb. My husband and I still talk about him and the care we received to every one of our friends in U.S. My husband not just survived but came out of the surgery without any compromise because of Mr. Chandru and his team.

Excellent surgeon who saved my life. Was nice to get the follow up consultation and to be reassured that my recovery was going really well.

In May 2023, I sought help for Trigeminal Neuralgia as my condition had significantly worsened. The journey to seeing a specialist was challenging. I am deeply grateful to Mr Kandasamy for referring me to Mr Kaliaperumal. These two remarkable surgeons saved me from a potentially life-altering ordeal. From my very first meeting, I felt truly heard. Together, we explored all options, and it was decided that Microvascular Decompression surgery would be the best for me, this was carried out on the 1st of February 2024. The entire team was fantastic, providing wonderful care from my pre-op assessment through to the surgery itself. The anaesthetist team ensured I was comfortable every step of the way, checking in with me before, during, and after the surgery. Mr. Kaliaperumal and his team were attentive and reassuring, offering unwavering support throughout the entire process. The nursing staff, too, were fantastic, compassionate and professional. I was discharged last week with no further follow-up required. I feel so reassured knowing that if this condition resurfaces, help is just a phone call away. Every day, I am deeply grateful for the life-changing care I received. My life is filled with many great things, and I owe this to Mr. Kaliaperumal and the teams at DCN Edinburgh

I consulted Mr. Kaliaperumal regarding a lower back issue that was causing severe sciatic pain down my left leg, significantly limiting my daily activities. From our very first meeting, he reassured me. An MRI scan revealed a large disc bulge at the L4/5 level, leading to the decision to undergo a microdiscectomy. On the day of the procedure at Spire Murrayfield, Mr. Kaliaperumal and all the hospital staff were incredibly kind and caring, which helped put me at ease. Two months after the surgery, I feel back to normal. My heartfelt thanks to everyone involved—I can't recommend the neurosurgery department highly enough. Thank you.

I could not rate Dr Kaliaperumal high enough. We met him 5 years ago when our wee boy was just 4 months old. We had been told our wee one would need head surgery for Craniosynostis. We were very nervous and worried as he was diagnosed at 4 months but the op wouldn't take place until he was a year old. Dr Kaliaperumal met with us and answered all our questions straight away and kept in touch with us on the run up to his surgery. Fast forward a few months and we were on the ward awaiting surgery. The staff and nurses looking after us were fantastic and so helpful. They really helped put us at ease before surgery. Dr K came round and explained to us what the surgery would involve and how long it would take etc before taking lb down to theatre. Surgery was a success and lb was brought back up for recovery. The nurseing staff were fantastic and one sat with me and lb through out the night giving help and support where needed. We were allowed home 3 days later and have gone from strength to strength since. My wee one is now a happy 6 year old who is doing amazing at school and we cannot that the nuro team enough. All the worry etc at the start was for nothing. We had the best team and support through out our journey. Thank you so much Dr K you are our hero.