Neurosurgery has come a long way from cutting open a person's skull to repair what is inside. In fact, there are a lot of brain surgeries conducted by neurosurgeons that involve entering the brain in other ways. Here are just a few examples.
An Opening in an Artery or Vein
In this type of surgery, the surgeon opens an artery or vein, usually in the upper arm, neck, or thigh. The blood vessel is clamped off to prevent excessive bleeding. Then the surgeon sends a tiny scope with a laser on the end into the brain. When the instrument gets close to a damaged blood vessel in the brain, the surgeon uses the laser to repair the vessel. Then the instruments are slowly retracted, and the incision in the body is sewn up. There is less down time, and the patient does not have to recover from the scalp incisions, nor does the skull cap have to heal and close up.
Going Through Your Nose or Eye Socket
Yes, it sounds quite bizarre, but the one thing that brutal early twentieth-century medicine gave us is the realization that you can do things to the brain by going through the nose or the eye socket. These procedures have been refined since their inception, which has led to better results and significantly less damage to parts of the face and brain. When surgery is needed on the frontal cortex of the brain, the quickest way to reach this front part of the brain is through the nose and eye socket. Small brain tumors are also accessed and removed through the nose.
Through the Base of Your Skull
At the very top of your vertebrae, there is a tiny opening between the topmost vertebrae in your neck and the bottom part of your skull. Neurosurgeons only perform surgeries through this opening when absolutely necessary, because it is the very heart of your spinal column. One false move and you could be paralyzed; however, when the dangers are outweighed by the possibility of death because you have a tumor at the base of your skull, going through this small opening may be the only option.
Your surgeon can also open up your skull, carefully operate on your brain, and hopefully get to the tumor, but all neurosurgeries have their risks; this is why it's important to get an appointment with a qualified neurosurgeon who is familiar with the latest treatment options.
During my first pregnancy, I spent a lot of time pushing pillows behind my back trying to find comfort. As the size of the baby grew, so did my discomfort. By the time she was born, I was more than ready to give birth. When I found out I was pregnant again, I was determined that I would not suffer through the same discomforts. I started researching ways to ease the symptoms of pregnancy, including back pain. I created this blog to help other expectant moms find remedies to deal with those symptoms that can be emotionally and physically draining.