Biji Bahuleyan1, Timothy W Vogel, Shenandoah Robinson, Alan R Cohen. 1. Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, The Neurological Institute, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Callosotomy is a surgical option for treatment of a small number of patients with intractable seizures who are not candidates for surgical resection. The procedure is done conventionally with the aid of a microscope. In this article, we describe a new technique of endoscopic callosotomy through a parasagittal burr hole in a cadaveric model. METHODS: We utilized this technique with a single frontal burr hole. Callosotomies were performed on 4 silicon-injected cadaver heads in our minimally invasive neurosurgical laboratory. RESULTS: We were able to successfully perform total callosotomies in all cadaveric specimens without injury to the adjacent neurovascular structures. The advantages of our technique over microsurgery are the minimally invasive nature of the exposure and the improved visualization of the vascular structures near the rostrum and genu of the corpus callosum. A potential disadvantage we anticipate is the difficulty controlling bleeding in the event of vascular injury. CONCLUSION: We believe that this minimally invasive approach could have potential clinical applications.
BACKGROUND: Callosotomy is a surgical option for treatment of a small number of patients with intractable seizures who are not candidates for surgical resection. The procedure is done conventionally with the aid of a microscope. In this article, we describe a new technique of endoscopic callosotomy through a parasagittal burr hole in a cadaveric model. METHODS: We utilized this technique with a single frontal burr hole. Callosotomies were performed on 4 silicon-injected cadaver heads in our minimally invasive neurosurgical laboratory. RESULTS: We were able to successfully perform total callosotomies in all cadaveric specimens without injury to the adjacent neurovascular structures. The advantages of our technique over microsurgery are the minimally invasive nature of the exposure and the improved visualization of the vascular structures near the rostrum and genu of the corpus callosum. A potential disadvantage we anticipate is the difficulty controlling bleeding in the event of vascular injury. CONCLUSION: We believe that this minimally invasive approach could have potential clinical applications.