Minimally Invasive Brain Tumor Surgery

Minimally invasive surgery is an advanced type of surgical technique that allows the surgeon to perform brain tumor surgery with more accuracy and less damage to surrounding tissues. Unlike traditional brain tumor surgery, minimally invasive surgery will enable patients to recover faster as it requires less time for healing.

What is Minimally Invasive Brain Tumor Surgery?

Minimally invasive brain tumor surgery is a technique to remove tumors from the brain. But it can also be used to treat other neurological conditions like stroke, etc. In this surgery, small incisions are made instead of large ones, which causes fewer complications and faster recovery than traditional craniotomy. 

Minimally invasive brain surgery is one of the commonly used treatment options for different types of tumors in the skull. This approach, which has been used successfully for procedures like knee replacements for many years now, is also used to safely and precisely remove tumors or treat brain problems with lesser damage to surrounding tissues. Many of these surgeries can be done by using a small craniotomy, where a section of the skull is opened, or the procedure is performed through the openings in the skull, such as nostrils.

Types of Minimally Invasive Surgeries

Different types of minimally invasive surgeries are performed according to each patient's condition. Each surgery is unique and can be used to treat the patient's limited conditions. Some types of minimally invasive techniques for brain tumor surgery are as follows:

Keyhole craniotomy: A keyhole craniotomy involves creating a small, precise incision in the skull, often behind the hairline, to access the brain. Specialized instruments and an endoscope are used to perform the surgery through this small opening. It is performed to remove certain types of brain tumors, aneurysms, and vascular abnormalities.

Endoscopic surgery: In this surgery, an endoscope is used, which is a thin and flexible tube with a camera at the end. It helps to direct and operate procedures within the brain. The endoscope is inserted through small incisions, which provides a clear view of the surgical area on a computer monitor. It is commonly used for intraventricular tumors, cysts, and pituitary tumors and to treat hydrocephalus.

Transorbital surgery (through the eye socket): The neurosurgeon accesses the brain through the eye socket without the need for large incisions. An endoscope and specialized instruments are used to perform the procedure. This procedure is more suitable for tumors located near the front of the brain, such as orbital tumors and certain meningiomas.

Endonasal surgery (through the nose): Endonasal surgery, or endoscopic endonasal surgery, involves inserting an endoscope through the passage of the nose to access the brain. This technique eliminates the need for external incisions. It is most commonly used for pituitary tumors, skull base tumors, and cerebrospinal fluid leaks.

Laser ablation: In laser ablation surgery, a thin beam of laser inserts through a small hole in the skull to target and destroy tumor cells with precise and controlled heat. Real-time MRI guidance is used for greater accuracy, which is effective for treating deep-seated brain tumors, epilepsy, and metastatic cancers.

What conditions do you treat with minimally invasive brain surgery?

Several conditions can be treated nowadays with minimally invasive techniques due to their high accuracy and success rates. However, some complicated conditions with extensive damage may not be suitable for this procedure. Some of the conditions that are treated with minimally invasive brain surgery are:

• Brain tumors such as gliomas, meningiomas, pituitary tumors, and metastatic tumors
• Pituitary adenomas
• Skull base tumors
• Cerebrospinal fluid leaks
• Aneurysms
• Vascular malformations
• Hydrocephalus
• Epilepsy
• Parkinson's disease
• Trigeminal neuralgia
• Cysts
• Certain orbital tumors

What are the Advantages of this Type of Surgery, and What can Patients Expect?

The availability of advanced techniques like minimally invasive surgery allows safer procedures, even for complicated cases. Here are some of the benefits of this type of surgery:

• As discussed earlier, many types of minimally invasive procedures are available, and each type provides certain benefits and is only used in some specific conditions to allow more accuracy. 
• Minimally invasive techniques involve smaller incisions, which allows for less damage and fewer complications during and after surgery. 
• Small incisions used in minimally invasive techniques lead to less scar formation; many scars usually disappear after some time.
• The specialized instruments used in minimally invasive techniques allow surgeons to view the procedure area on a monitor. This enables them to perform procedures with more accuracy and fewer human errors.
• There is less risk of bleeding during surgery in minimally invasive procedures.
• Minimally invasive techniques require less time for hospital stay and allow recovery faster than traditional procedures.
• Patients experience less pain and discomfort in minimally invasive procedures.
• Some minimally invasive procedures do not involve shaving the heads of the patients for incisions, which also prevents psychological stress in patients undergoing surgery.

What are the Risks Associated With Minimally Invasive Brain Surgery?

It is often advantageous to use a small opening and approach for many cases. However, some situations can be more difficult for surgeons unfamiliar with this method. If a surgeon lacks the training to handle everything gently and calmly, he could be too forceful and cause more harm than good despite using a minimally invasive approach. This is a primary concern when it comes to performing brain surgery this way, as accessing the skull and brain leaves very little room to work. Therefore, having the appropriate background and training to safely and successfully perform the procedure in this manner is crucial.

What is the Recovery Time for Minimally Invasive Brain Surgery?

Minimally invasive surgery involves smaller incisions during the procedure, which means there are fewer chances of complications like bleeding, scarring, infection, etc. This may work in the favor of recovery. After minimally invasive procedures, patients may require less hospital stay of 1-2 days rather than 8-9 days in traditional surgeries. After discharge, recovery from minimally invasive brain surgery may take 3-7 weeks with rehabilitation.

Conclusion

Minimally invasive brain tumor surgery is the most common type of procedure used in neurosurgery because of its high success rates. Many people who are diagnosed with brain tumors may undergo this surgery for the complete removal of the tumor. After the surgery, patients can resume their everyday life with good quality.

FAQ's Of Minimally Invasive Brain Tumor Surgery

How Long Does Minimally Invasive Brain Surgery Take?

Minimally invasive brain surgery can take 1 hour, but it can vary for each type of procedure.

Is Minimally Invasive surgery Safe?

Yes, minimally invasive surgery is safer and has fewer chances of complications.

Is Minimally Invasive Surgery Painful?

Patients usually experience less pain and discomfort after minimally invasive surgery.

What is the Limitation of Minimally Invasive Surgery?

Minimally invasive surgery may require an experienced medical professional and team to handle the instruments smoothly and accurately.

How much does Minimally Invasive Brain Surgery Cost in India?

The cost of minimally invasive brain surgery in India ranges from 280,000 to 375,000 INR.