What is endoscopic assisted surgery?
During endoscopic surgery, your surgeon will use special instruments to view the inside of your body and will perform a procedure through small incisions. Typically, your surgeon will make a small incision and insert a tool called an endoscope - a tiny tube with a camera attached. Images will then be displayed on a monitor for the surgeon to see, from which he can see the relevant area and perform the surgery. The surgeon inserts a thin, flexible tube with a video camera through a small incision or a natural opening such as the mouth or nostrils during endoscopic surgery. The tube provides a channel for the surgeon to use tiny surgical instruments while watching the organs on a computer monitor. This procedure allows the surgeon to view inside the patient's body and operate through a considerably smaller incision than typical open surgery would need.
What is an endoscopic third ventriculostomy?
An endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is a procedure that is performed to treat hydrocephalus, a condition which occurs when there is too much fluid in the brain. The condition is caused if there is a blockage that prevents fluid from flowing normally, if the blood vessels are unable to absorb the fluid or if the brain produces too much fluid
The procedure involves creating a hole in the floor of the third ventricle. The hole is made with the use of an endoscope, which allows the fluid to drain from the brain into an area where it can be absorbed more easily. It is important to treat hydrocephalus, as it can cause serious brain damage.
What are the benefits of endoscopic procedures?
There are a few benefits to endoscopic procedures:
FAQ:
Endoscopic surgeries typically take between 15 and 30 minutes to perform.
In about a week, you should be able to return to work or school, and in about three weeks, you should be back to your routine. This, however, varies depending on your profession and the amount of your surgery. In 1 to 2 months, most people are back to normal. You will need to see your doctor regularly for the next 3 to 4 months following your surgery.
Yes, you will be under general anaesthesia.
I am a qualified neurosurgeon following my pre- and postgraduate studies at the University of Stellenbosch and currently have private practices at Netcare N1 City, which caters for the northern suburbs of Cape Town and Netcare Blaauwberg Hospital, which caters for the west coast of Cape Town and Western Cape.
Netcare Blaauwberg Hospital
Tel: +27 (0)21 554 0779 / Fax: +27 (0)21 554 2144
Email: bbhinfo@capeneurospine.co.za
Netcare N1 City Hospital
Tel: 021 595 4633 / Fax: 021-595 3446
Email: info@capeneurospine.co.za