Lasers in Neurosurgery

Description

Developments in the field of instrumentation of innovative instrumentation. Although laser applications have permeated nearly every aspect are among the major contributions to human advancement. The history of surgery has seen of surgical therapy, the expectations have fre­ many revolutionary developments cause quantum quently been unrealistic and the evaluation of leaps in progress. Electrocautery, the anesthesia technological development has always been machine, computed axial tomography, and the painfully slow. The properties of vaporization, surgical microscope are all revolutionary in­ coagulation, and cutting unified in an invisible struments that have irrevocably changed the shaft of light have enabled the neurosurgeon to direction of neurological surgery. vaporize inaccessible tumors of brain and spinal In the early stages of application, there are cord, harness recalcitrant bleeding sites, and cut always detractors and valid controversy concern­ through the most formidable calcified tumors. ing the value of a new instrument. Some will The application of this new energy form in remember those who argued that the magnifica­ tandem with the surgical microscope has, in my tion and illumination provided by the micro­ opinion, extended the scope of all aspects of scope were not valuable to the skilled surgeon neurosurgery. We have much more work to do. and would prolong the operative time and in­ lt is necessary to document improved results and crease infection rates. Others may recall that demand technological advances and safe inno­ Cushing was told to abandon the blood pressure vations. Front Matter....Pages i-xiii Front Matter....Pages 1-1 The History of Lasers in Neurosurgery....Pages 3-7 Laser Types....Pages 9-16 Fundamentals of Laser Physics....Pages 17-28 The Interaction of Laser Light with Neural Tissue....Pages 29-51 Front Matter....Pages 53-53 Benign Supratentorial Tumors....Pages 55-74 Laser Surgery for Intracranial Glial Tumors....Pages 75-84 Tumors of the Posterior Fossa and Skull Base in Adults....Pages 85-99 Using Lasers in Pediatric Neurosurgery....Pages 101-114 Stereotactic Laser Resection of Deep-Seated Tumors....Pages 115-121 Front Matter....Pages 123-123 The Use of the Laser in the Operative Management of Intraspinal Tumors....Pages 125-136 Laser in Pain Management....Pages 137-141 Front Matter....Pages 143-143 Laser Surgery in Congential Abnormalities....Pages 145-157 Neurosurgical Applications of the Nd:YAG Laser for Vascular Lesions....Pages 159-172 Front Matter....Pages 173-173 Investigational Applications....Pages 175-180 Back Matter....Pages 181-182