Endoscopic brain surgery, also known as neuroendoscopy, is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that allows surgeons to access the brain through the nose, mouth, or small holes in the skull. The procedure uses a specially designed endoscope with a lens and light to help surgeons view and transmit images of the brain's internal structures.
Endoscopic brain surgery can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including:
Tumors: Can be removed from areas near the base of the brain or skull, as well as at the top of the spine. This includes pituitary tumors, meningiomas, craniopharyngiomas, Rathke's cleft cysts, and chordomas.
Aneurysms: Can be repaired or removed using the endoscope and instruments.
Sinus problems: Can be treated using this approach.
Endoscopic brain surgery can be especially useful for lesions of the skull base, which is the area where the brain rests on the skull's floor. The skull base contains critical structures such as the carotid arteries, cranial nerves, and basilar artery.
Endoscopic brain surgery can lead to quicker and less painful recoveries than open surgery because it minimizes trauma to the surrounding tissue or skull and doesn't require large incisions or removal of parts of the skull. Routine cases typically take about two hours, while more complex cases may take up to six hours. Most hospital stays last 1–3 days, but recovery time can vary depending on the disease or pathology being treated.