Number of hours for surgery

[Crystal]

Hello,

Anybody know why there are different quotes of time by doctors for Translabyrinthine method.  One doctor told me it would take 9 hours.  I see posts on other sites where they say that would take 5 or so hours.  Are these guys using different methods for the same surgery?  I know that some are more skilled than others but the one who quoted me nine has a very good rep.  After finding this info on the internet I'm confused.   

[Boppie]

I believe the surgeons will quote the hours based on their information on your tumor size, your pre op symptoms, and their own routine on the team.  Each doctor has a routine and he wants to keep the family asuured that if he says X hours that he has allowed enough time for a good job and the family will not expect to see you much earlier.  Once in a while the surgeon might get a patient who has a nice slippery tumor that will pop out fast and not require a lot of picking.  I wouldn't get excited about any difference in times for one translab patient and another, or one surgeon and anothre for that matter.  If the neuro wants more time he will send the op room nurse out to report to your family about his progress.  Once you are in ICU, awake or not the doc will visit with the family.

[Kathleen_Mc]

I think it can be difficult to predict time of surgery based only on MRI, they have a general idea based on others surgery's they've done however everyone is different. My first surgery was to be 8-9 hours, it was 15 hours. At the 8 hour mark they sent out a nurse, and every so often thereafter, to speak to my family. The surgeon spoke to them after and took them to where I was in NICU.
Kathleen

[Obita]

Hi Crystal:

My surgeons told me between 4 - 8 hours on average and that there was no way to predict in advance.  In my case it was 8.5.  My tumor came out easy or I would have been a 12 hour.  I had an unusual (about as common as left handed vs right) high jugular bulb so they had to go up and around it instead of straight to the tumor.  They kept my family informed.  At hour 5 my neurosurgeon even came out to tell them to go to lunch because he wouldn't be starting the tumor removal for another half hour or so and that my Neurotologist was just starting to get close to the tumor.

For your family and friends sake I hope you are a quickie but prepare them for the long haul so they don't get worried.

Best of luck,  Kathy

[krbonner]

It really seems to depend on the quality of the tumor they find once they're in there.  My surgeon quoted 10-12 hours for surgery.  The surgery itself was 10.5 hours, I was under anesthesia 11.5 hours.  But my doctors also described my tumor as "very plump" and "tedious" to remove.  I'm also very glad they took all that time - I had no damage to my facial nerve, not even temporary. 

Others have ANs the just slip right off the nerves and it's a lot less work for the surgeons.  There's so many factors for determining how long the surgery will be!

Katie

[Gennysmom]

Agreed, plus if it is, or how it is entangled in the cranial artery that runs through there makes a difference as well.  Once the Dr. opens the Dura, and the CSF pressure is released, the tumor will puff, so the MRI can give the surgeon an idea of what they're looking at, but that's it...just an idea.  My tumor had grown significantly in the 3 months since the MRI, and surprised the Dr. as it had turned down at the trigeminal nerve and was sticky and growing into nerves 10, 11, and 12....something they couldn't see on the MRI.  They were nice enough to keep my family appraised along the way, but it just depends on how fast that particular surgeon works and how sticky/messy or not your tumor is.  I was 6 1/2 hours. 

[Battyp]

I think I'd rather be told longer than shorter.  I was told 6 hours and it took 9.  From what I was told by my family waiting it was very stressful for them to wait the extra few hours even though the nurse called and reported in to them from the or.  It befuddles me how they can judge how long with there are so many variables.  I'm sure they are giving an average of their experience.

[ANcoleader]

You must find out how many surgeries that the doctor has done, success rate and if he/she has any patients that you can talk to.  I was told in my research if you find an good doctor that you also want less time under anesthesia as it is beeter for the patient.

[Pembo]

The doc said I'd be in surgery 6-8 hours and I was in for 16! My tumor was 4 cm but was "stuck to everything" and from reading the surgery report it was a bleeder therefore took a lot longer to remove.  My husband said that the waiting was awful and he watched a lot of people come and go. He said goodbye to me at 7:15 am and didn't see me again until 3 am, a very long day.  I'm just glad they took their time and got the whole thing out.

[pearchica]

Hey Crystal: I have been told anywhere from 3-4 hours, up to 6-8 hours.  Again, it will be long day either way for your family and no matter how much you prepare them, I'm sure they will still be freaked.  Try not to worry about others, just take care of yourself! (Easier said than done, as I still worry about everyone else). Annie

[Dantheman]

pearchica,

My Otologist told me a translab will be all day...could be up to 12 hrs.

My neurosergeon told me about 7 1/2 hrs.

gabba, gabba, hey.

Dan

[cookiesecond]

I was told 5-6 hours and it took 8. The tumor was sticky and really wrapped around my facial nerve. It was very tedious but they took their time and I didn't have any facial numbness not even temporary. I thank God for that. My family did have to ask around the five hour mark but after that they kept them informed.They were told I probably wouldn't know them until the next day but I did. As soon as they came to recovery, I saw my husband next my parents and then my girls. I was very alert, asking questions and wanting my glasses.I usually wear contacts and am lost without them.
I knew the day of surgery would be hard on my family so I packed them a goody bag with snacks, magazines. hand held games and a deck of cards.
Lynn

[brasher]

hi crystal,
i was told by one surgeon that it could take 16 to 20 hours to do my surgery. my actual dr.'s thought it would take 8 to 10. it actually took over 13 hours.
i had a large tumor, so i was made aware that things could come up during the procedure. the were right about predicting that.
my tumor was very vascular, it had lots of blood vessels attached to it, therefore, i lost a lot of blood during surgery, apparently complicating everything, requiring a blood transfusion. like a liter or so?
anyway, it is something to look into and ask about. i did not have any blood work done other than just the normal type sample. luckily, my transfusion was successful.
good luck and god bless you
tony

[jtd71465]

I was told it would take from 4 - 6 hours, it took 3.5 hours, in at 5:00PM out at 8:30PM.

Joe-

[Dantheman]

I ended up being around 12 hours. My surgeon said the Trans lab was 8 hours and went smoothly. The lumbar drain took 1 1/2 hours to put in. He told me that that was a long time for that particular procedure. I had a bit of scoliosis as a kid so my back is kind of twisted. I'm sure that had something to do with it.
Then I was having such a good time during all of this, I didn't want to wake up for over 2 more hours.

Hey...a good nap is a good nap...

Dan