Summary
The introduction of lasers in neurosurgery in 1976 can be considered as a major contribution to gaining access to “untouchable” areas of the brain. This immaterial instrument provides for precise cutting at low penetration depth in surrounding tissues and may carbonize, and thus remove, layers not to be touched because of their highly sensitive vicinity.
From a total of 794 patients experiencing the advantages of laser surgery (1976–1984), a series of 12 children with lower brainstem tumors is presented. Intraoperative instability of vital functions was absent throughout, leaving the patients without deterioriation of their initial neurological condition. Given appropriate handling and adequate experience, the laser is a singularly helpful surgical tool for gaining access to areas hitherto barred to surgery.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Alvisi, C., Cerisoli, M., Maccheroni, M. E., Long-term results of surgically treated brainstem gliomas. Acta Neurochir. (Wien) 76, 12–17.
Ascher, P. W., Der CO2-Laser in der Neurochirurgie. Wien: Molden. 1977.
Ascher, P. W., Oberbauer, R. W., Ingolitsch, E., Walter, G., Neuere histologische Untersuchungsergebnisse nach Gebrauch des Lasers am Zentralnervensystem, Kongressber. 19. Tagung d. Öst. Ges. f. Chir., pp. 479–483. Wien: H. Egermann. 1978.
Ascher, P. W., Cerullo, L., Chapter 9: Laser Use in Neurosurgery. In: Surgical Applications of Lasers, pp. 163–174. Chicago: Year Book Medical Publ. 1983.
Ascher, P. W., Absolute inoperable tumors have to be reconsidered under the use of different lasers. Third Congress on Laser Neurosurgery (1984) Summaries, p. 192. Chicago, May 7–9, 1984.
Entzian, W., Removal of low brain stem spongioblastomas—positive long term results in circumscribed lesions. Proc. 12th Scientific Meeting, Int. Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery, Cairo, Sept. 1984.
Heppner, F., Ascher, P. W., Über den Einsatz des Laserstrahls in der Neurochirurgie. Medizinalmarkt 12 (1976), 424–426.
Heppner, F. Ascher, P. W., Hirnoperationen mit dem CO2-Laser. Melsunger Med. Mitt. 57, Suppl. II (1977), 121–123.
Heppner, F., Ascher, P. W., The use of laser in neurosurgery. 6th Int. Congr. of Neurol. Surgery, Abstr. 418, (Excerpta Med. Publ.), p. 134. Sao Paulo, Jun. 19–25, 1977.
Heppner, F., Ascher, P. W., Operationen an Hirn und Rückenmark mit dem CO2-Laser. Acta Chir. Austriaca 9 (1977), 32–34.
Heppner, F., Ascher, P. W., Oberbauer, R. W., Surgery of brain stem tumours in children. Acta Neurochir. (Wien) 62 (1982).
Hoffmann H. J., Becker, L., Craven, M. A., A chnically and pathologically distinct group of benign brain stem gliomas. Neurosurgery 7 (1980), 243–248.
Hooper, R., Intracranial tumors in childhood. Childs Brain 1 (1975), 136–140.
Ingraham, F. D., Matson, D. D., Neurosurgery of Infancy and Childhood. Springfield, Ill., U.S.A.: Ch. C Thomas. 1954.
Koos W. T., Miller, M. H., Intracranial Tumors of Infants and Children. Stuttgart: Thieme. 1971.
Lassiter, K. R. L., Alexander, E., Courtland, D., Jr., David, L. K., Jr.: Surgical treatment of brain-stem ghomas. J. Neurosurg. 34 (1971), 719–724.
Oberbauer, R. W., Ascher, P. W., Ingohtsch, E., Walter, C., Ultrastructural findings in CNS tissue with CO2-laser. Congr. Rep. Laser Surgery Vol. II, pp. 81–90. Jerusalem: Academic Press. 1978.
Oberbauer, R. W., Heppner, F., Ascher, P. W., Surgery of tumors in the midline. Proc. 8th Meeting European Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery, Rennes, Jun. 27–30, 1982, p. 24.
Olivecroma, H., The surgical treatment of intracranial tumors. In: Handbuch der Neurochirurgie 4/IV, p. 99. Berlin- Heidelberg-New York: Springer. 1967.
Panitch, H. S., Berg, B. O., Brain stem tumors of childhood and adolescence. Am. J. Dis. Child 119 (1970), 465–472.
Reigel, D. H., Brain-Stem Tumors During Childhood. In: Pediatric Neurosurgery. Grune and Stratton. 1982.
Strange, P., Wohlert, L.: Primary brain stem tumours. Acta Neurochir. (Wien) 62 (1982), 219–232.
Tönnis, W., Diagnostik der intrakraniellen Geschwülste. In: Handbuch der Neurochirurgie 4/III, pp. 308–309. Berlin-Göttingen-Heidelberg: Springer. 1962.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1985 Springer-Verlag/Wien
About this paper
Cite this paper
Heppner, F., Oberbauer, R., Ascher, P.W. (1985). Direct Surgical Attack on Pontine and Rhombencephalic Lesions. In: Koos, W.T., Pendl, G. (eds) Lesions of the Cerebral Midline. Acta Neurochirurgica Supplementum, vol 35. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-8813-2_22
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-8813-2_22
Publisher Name: Springer, Vienna
Print ISBN: 978-3-211-81883-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-7091-8813-2
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive