ceeceek...
One thing that I read about endoscopic surgery is that it can be very risky if there is a concern about nicking an artery which there may be in your case. The problem is that with such a small opening in the skull it is difficult to stop the bleeding in time if the worst should happen.
Bruce
The following is in regards to my Acoustic Neuroma Tumor that was growing from the vestibular nerve, and into the brain cavity area of the cerebelopontine angle. I asked this question specificaly during my pre op with Shahinian in his office. He mentioned it is a non issue due to how the endoscopic procedure is done in my case. and that those that question do not know the endoscopic process. ( Duh that's why I asked him *))
I felt it was a VERY important question to ask because I do not know about all the specialized tools he uses up their in my head that may or may not be used in case of "an artery" situation.
I know, and you can see in the video i posted, that a tumor is a living thing that is fed by numerous "arteries" and "capilaries", the instruments he uses core out the middle dead part first, then he carefully resects it off the facial and trigeminal nerves.
Of course, you can see how the tumor bleeds, but the tools he uses, actually eat at, and seals or suctions the blood at the same time.
you can see that in the video I posted. I think when we hear the term "its a bleeder"-all tumors bleed when they are resected. The endo tools used- deal with that perhaps.
Perhaps he meant when he said bleeding is a "non issue" is due to the overall less invasive technique that therefore lowers the risk of bleeding overall inside the brain cavity.
Perhaps bleeding is more of a risk with the traditional method, where surgeons have gotten used to "controlling" them if it happens, and therefore always ask this question when someone asks them about endo. I am not sure, and only a surgeon that knows both techniques should probably post. C'mon you Neurosurgeons We KNow your here! Post! hahahhaa
I think this question also gets into that "special recipe secret ingredient" area that endo surgeons have the answer to, but maybe it touches on the specific designs of the tools which engineers they contract with design and therefore it "is not in the open". I know they only use the instruments 1x, then they are in the garbage.
That's one reason why this route is soo expensive.
They are custom designing a ferrari to drive into your head, park there a while, then drive back out into the garbage can.
