Medical Procedures
Endoscopic Brain Surgery
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Brain surgery treats lesions of the brain and its surrounding structures through an opening (craniotomy) in the skull.
To perform a standard surgery on the brain, the hair on part of the scalp is shaved. The scalp is cleansed and prepared for surgery. An incision is made through the scalp and a hole is drilled through the skull. A piece of the skull is removed (usually temporarily) and the surgery is performed, after which the bone is replaced and secured in place.
There are many reasons people may need to undergo brain surgery. They include: brain tumors, bleeding or blood clots from injuries, weaknesses in blood vessels (cerebral aneurysms), arteriovenous malformations (AVM; abnormal blood vessels), damage to tissues covering the brain, pockets of infection in the brain, severe nerve or facial pain and trauma to the skull and repair of skull fractures.
Risks for any surgery include bleeding and infection, but additional risks of brain surgery include injury to brain tissue, injury to blood vessels, nerve or muscle paralysis and loss of memory, speech and/or understanding.
Dr. John Frazee, from the University of California, Los Angeles, has developed an endoscope that allows easier access to the brain with a smaller incision.
"We're making a tiny hole, probably the size of a nickel, through the bone itself. That give us direct access to the brain and then we feed in a little endoscope, which is about the size of a pencil," Frazee said.
In a standard craniotomy the incision can be up to six inches. The less invasive approach means a world of difference for the patient.
"The difference (between standard and endoscopic) is the length of time in the operating room, the length of time under anesthesia. You recover more quickly (with the endoscopic approach). You're in the hospital five or six days with a craniotomy. You're in the hospital a couple of days at the most with the endoscopic procedure," Frazee said.
Perhaps, the biggest difference felt by the patients is that there is less pain with the easier approach.
"This is really great. I mean, how often can you take an idea, develop it, and actually then, apply it to a patient? I mean, that's something that you just don't get to do very often so it's really wonderful for me," Frazee said.