Laser Ablation
Laser ablation is minimally invasive neurosurgery which uses smarter technology for removing tumors in the brain. This treatment can be used for several diseases which include brain tumors. This treatment uses lasers to effectively target and destroy or ablate the tumor. Compared to traditional open surgery, i.e. craniotomy for removing a brain tumor, this procedure involves lesser pain and shorter recovery time.
Purpose
This procedure might be a choice for people, especially, children suffering from brain tumors or abnormal tissue that can lead to seizures. If the damaged area is deep in the brain, these children might not have any other treatment options.
It is considered if other treatments such as antiseizure medications have been tried and failed.
The size matters as well, as this procedure works best on small lesions since the tip of the probe heats a small area. If your doctors are unable to identify this area, other treatments can be considered.
To the youngest patients to receive laser ablation are about 2 years of age. There is no upper age limit for receiving this treatment.
Preparation
Your doctor might need to check your medical history and perform a few tests.
Your doctor will likely advise you to drink plenty of water before the procedure is performed. You will also need to arrange for someone to drive you home after your procedure.
Procedure
First, the patient receives medications that put them to sleep. They will not be feeling any pain. Then an advanced surgical tool is used to help the surgeon insert a probe in the best place for reaching the lesion. The probe is a very thin and flexible tube, which can send out light. The tube is about as wide as a toothpick.
Then a small incision is made in the patient’s scalp, just a bit wider than the probe. Once this is done, the surgeon puts the probe into the patient’s skull. Then the patient is moved into the MRI scanner, and with the help of the MRI display, the surgeon will able to check the precise placement of the tip of the probe in the patient’s brain.
After this, the laser is turned on to make the light come out of the tip of the probe.
The screen will be displaying where tissue is being heated and how warm it is getting. This will help the surgeon in deciding how much treatment is required, and when he/she needs to stop.
The treatment shouldn’t take over a few minutes. However, the careful setup before the treatment can take longer. The total time under anesthesia should be around four hours.
Aftercare
Generally, after this treatment, most people are able to go home within a couple of days. The recovery time required is much less as compared to after a craniotomy.
For most people, this treatment should be a cure. Around half the patients who suffer from epilepsy become free of seizures within a week or so. Though this provides the same success rate as compared with open surgery, the risks are far lesser. Some patients can continue to have seizures though they will be less severe or happen much less often. Sometimes it can require one year, to be sure that the procedure worked. For some patients, seizures can stop for some time and again come back.
Risks
Laser ablation has a few risks which include the chance of infections. There is also sometimes a chance of a healthy part of the brain getting affected. This generally depends on where the lesion is located.
You should discuss all risks in detail with your surgeon before the procedure is performed.
Children who don’t undergo laser ablation can still go for open heart surgery later if laser ablation doesn’t cure their disorder.