About the procedure

While the surgery often involves reaching complex areas of the skull base, brain or the spinal cord, the objective of the procedure is to achieve a good surgical outcome by keeping the delicate functions of the brain intact.

 

Why is micro-neurosurgery performed?

This procedure is chosen to treat lower back pain, peripheral nervous systems, brain tumours and carpal tunnel syndrome. The surgery is conducted when the ailment proves to be untreatable through medication.

Preparing for the procedure:

Your doctor will initially make sure you are ‘medically cleared’ for the surgery. You will have to visit your cardiologist as people with a history of heart problems may face a higher risk. Specific tests are conducted to assess the flow of the blood to the heart.

Since there could be internal bleeding during or right after the procedure, it is important to discuss your medication(if you are taking any) with your micro neurosurgeon. In some cases you might have to stop medication, 7 days prior to the surgery.

During the procedure:

Surgeons, while treating the nervous system, make use of high-powered microscopes. Generally, the following procedures use the technique of micro-neurosurgery.

1.    Aneurysm clipping

2.    Brain tumour surgery

3.    Cerebrovascular neurosurgery

4.    Craniotomy

5.    Deep brain stimulation

6.    Endoscopic surgery

7.    Endovascular neurosurgery

8.    Epilepsy surgery

9.    Minimally invasive surgery

10.    Peripheral nerve surgery

11.    Psychiatric neurosurgery

12.    Skull base surgery

13.    Trauma surgery

During the procedure, you’d be under the influence of anaesthesia or completely conscious, depending on your involvement in the procedure. In some cases, you’d be required to guide your surgeon through certain parts of the surgery with feedback on how you feel. Before the day of surgery, your doctor would instruct you on the basic steps involved in the surgery and on what to expect after the procedure.

The centres for Neurosurgery at Apollo Hospitals offer the best in micro neurosurgery. Almost all procedures in the brain and spine are performed under the magnification of high-powered operating microscope. By using a microscope, there is less damage to the spinal cord or the brain region surrounding the area of abnormality. Patients who undergo microneurosurgery have a smooth recovery and lower incidence of surgery induced defects. The hospital stay is reduced and thus the cost of treatment is lower.

After the procedure:

If you are undergoing a minimal invasive procedure like endovascular surgery, your duration at the hospital shouldn’t exceed a day or two. Depending on what procedure you went through and the complexity, your healing process might vary. It is highly important to stay in touch with your neurosurgeon for regular visits and discuss any side effects.

 

Benefits of micro-neurosurgery

Some of the benefits of micro-neurosurgery are as follows:

1.    Lesser pain

2.    Minimally invasive

3.    Muscle sparing

4.    Fewer days at the hospital

5.    More accuracy

6.    Faster recovery

 

Risks of micro-neurosurgery

Some of the potential risks of micro-neurosurgery include the following:

1.    A reaction to administered anaesthesia

2.    Bleeding in the brain

3.    Blood clot or brain swelling

4.    Coma / seizures/ stroke

5.    Impaired speech and vision, incoherence

6.    Infection at the site of the incision

 

Conclusion:

Micro-neurosurgery is a technique that is useful it comes to treating intricate and complex issues  in the brain, spine and the spinal cord. Talk to your doctor and discuss the potential risks you could face based on your medical history.