Neuronavegacion en cirugias intracraneales / Neuronavigation in intracranial surgeries

ABSTRACT

Objectives: to present our experience with Neuronavigation system in intracranial surgery. Material and Methods: The use of neuronavigation system was evaluated in 104 consecutive patients operated on during the period September 1999 - April 2003 (Range of age: 5 months - 75 years). Surgical procedures included the remotion of brain tumor, arteriovenous malformation, cavernous angiomas and epilepsy surgeries. The neuronavigation system is the Elekta Insight View Scope (Elekta Instrumental). Results: The additional time required for preoperative organization of the Neuronavigation system was 30 minutes. There were no differences during the registration process related to the surgical position (prone, supine and park-bench). The reference system planning of the surgical approach, to guide endoscopical procedures, perform smaller craniotomies, localize deep-seated subcortical lesions, identify the boundaries of low grade tumors and evaluate the extent of resection in epilepsy surgeries. Conclusion: Neuronavigation system improves the surgical approach of intracranial surgeries allowing to short the operating time, define the less invasive trajector, and identify the margins of low grade lesions