Endoscopy and Minimally Invasive Surgery

What is Endoscopy and Minimally Invasive Surgery?

Endoscopic surgeries, also known as keyhole surgeries, are safe and allow faster recovery.

Aster Hospitals, Kochi, is at the forefront of offering all endoscopic surgeries under one roof with their highly skilled doctors and the latest technology. 

When and why is recommended?

Endoscopic transnasal skull base surgery, including surgery for including pituitary tumors, and meningiomas 
Endoscopy facilitates the operation of skull base tumors through the nasal passage instead of significant incisions, as in traditional head surgeries. 
Surgery involves: Passing the endoscope through the nose to remove Brain Tumor Safely. 

Benefits of endoscopy and minimally invasive surgery:

●    Direct visual access to the structures at the skull base and within the brain.
●    Shorter operating time 
●    Minimal complications
●    Zero skin incisions

The latest endoscopic and reconstructive techniques used at Aster Hospitals, Kochi, result in highly successful outcomes. 

Preparation includes consultation, scans, and blood tests. 

Transcranial endoscopic surgery for hydrocephalus

The neuro-endoscopic surgical technique helps treat hydrocephalus with minimal invasion. It involves diverting the excess fluid in the brain, thus relieving the pressure. 

Neuro-endoscopic surgery is the preferred option with a lesser risk of infection and faster recovery.

Surgeons at Aster Hospitals, Kochi, have high levels of expertise in neuro-endoscopic surgeries. Neuro-navigation guides this surgery to achieve optimal success.

Endoscope assisted surgery 

Endoscope-assisted surgeries have increased the standard of care, removed the need for significant openings in the skin, and reduced the hospital stay after the surgery. Moreover, they are more specialized and successful. 

The surgery involves: 

• Small incisions to introduce the endoscopic under navigation evidence.
• Removing the tumor and obtaining the biopsy using the neurophysiological monitoring that help surgeon’s track electrical activity in the brain during surgery to avoid neurological deficits.

Benefits:

• Complex  brain surgeries can be done with the aid of an endoscope
• Small incisions is only required.
• Minimum retraction and damage of healthy tissues 
• Faster recovery 
• Reduced rate of complications
• Better Cosmosis

Aster Hospitals, Kochi, has a highly skilled multidisciplinary team of surgeons and offers a wide range of endoscope-assisted surgeries with excellent outcomes.  

Trans-nasal endoscopic repair of CSF leaks

During head injury or brain surgery, Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), a clear fluid in and around the brain and spinal cord, may leak through the ear or nose that require prompt treatment. 

CSF leaks can be closed by endoscopic repair. 

The surgery involves:

• Inserting the endoscope through the nose 
• Locating and stopping the leak
• Closing the site of the leak with a flap from the nasal cavity.

Benefits:

• No risk of retraction injury into the brain/ blood vessels/ nerves
• Better Cosmosis
• No risk of loss of smell.

At Aster Hospitals, Kochi, the neurosurgeons achieved high success rates by employing newly developed techniques and materials to close the dural defect causing of CSF leaks and increase the healing potential. 

Preparation includes HRCT, intranasal endoscopic examination, and blood tests.

Stereotactic surgery for brain tumors, placement of intracranial catheter/electrode 

Stereotactic surgery helps surgeons to precisely locate, diagnose and treat brain tumors. 

It involves:

• Shaving hair over a small area of the head
• Making a small opening in the skull and passing an electrode into the skull and brain
• Obtaining a biopsy sample  safely

Benefits:

• Safe and accurate
• Return to the routine activities within a day

Stereotactic surgery requires high-level precision and expertise. The neurosurgeons at Aster Hospitals, Kochi, have an interdisciplinary team that is highly experienced in this procedure. 

Preparation includes consultation and a few tests.