Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe
Media Release
Mangaluru, Nov 26: The state-of-the-art The Medtronic STEALTH S8 make Neuro ENT-Navigation System was inaugurated at Mangala Hospital & Mangala Kidney Foundation, on Saturday November 26.
The equipment was inaugurated by Prof Dr A Raja, Prof Dr N Shanker and Prof Dr Sathish Bhandary. Prof Dr Ganapathi P, Dr Anitha G Bhat and Dr Moideen Nafseer were present.
Among the most challenging treatment on the human body is surgeries on the brain also called neurosurgery. What makes it so challenging is important functions packed into small structures within head which leaves very little margin for error. A neurosurgeon not only needs to be extremely skilled but also needs to have the right tools to provide best possible outcome.
Several technologies have evolved over decades to improve precision, safety, and ease of these intricate surgical branch. For example, operating microscope, neuro endoscopes, intraoperative neuro monitoring etc.
One such tool is neuro navigation (also called frameless stereotaxic surgery). Used for real time high precision guidance during surgery. Benefits, to name a few, include aid in key hole approaches to brain, ensuring safest possible corridor of access to deep seated brain lesions, help with complete tumour resection, and many more.
The neuro navigation system at Mangala Hospital of the Medtronic STEALTH S8 make is considered the gold standard of navigation systems worldwide. The device uses a wide gambit of cutting edge technologies that includes infrared cameras, specialized instruments with reflective glions, imaging tools and one of its kind AI to integrate pre-operative imaging with intraoperative live information. Especially useful in Key hole brain tumor biopsy/ Trans nasal pituitary surgeries/ skull base tumor surgeries/ minimal invasive surgeries among other.
Navigation system is the GPS for precision surgery. It improves the results by achieving a more complete removal of pathology. It improves safety by safeguarding critical structures during a surgery. It reduces the cost of surgery by reducing the time taken for surgery. It reduces the overall cost of treatment by reducing the chances of recurrent surgeries. It reduces the overall recovery time by improving the precision during surgery.
In ENT, it is most useful in sinus surgeries. Here it reduces the chances of damage to the eyes, vision, brain, as well as reducing the chances of life threatening bleeding - all while attempting an elaborate surgery. It is very useful while operating on tumors of the nose and sinuses in difficult to reach areas. Many surgeries that were not possible in the past are being done with the help of the navigation system.
Endoscopic skull base surgeries is a new field of surgery where problems at the skull base - the area between the brain and the nose and sinuses - have been developed and made safer with the advent of the navigation system.
Several pathologies such as Pituitary Tumours, CSF Rhinorrhoeas (Leaking of brain fluid), Angiofibromas, Tumours of the Orbit or Eye sockets, infections of the sinuses such as black fungus can be addressed through the nose. Also, tumours of the ear - called as lateral skull base - can also be addressed safely with the help of navigation system. It helps in safeguarding hearing and balance in advanced ear surgeries for infections and tumours.
Mangala Hospital & Mangala Kidney Foundation has a thriving surgical unit which has handled complex intracranial pathologies with great success, and they strive to improve upon their reputation with the new addition of Neuro Navigation system to their arsenal of specialized equipment.