Minimally Invasive Brain Surgery

Minimally invasive brain surgeries reduce risk, keep surrounding tissue safe, and can lead to faster recoveries for our patients.

AHN’s brain surgeons use cutting-edge, minimally invasive techniques to provide life-changing relief to patients affected by the debilitating symptoms of many neurological conditions.

Minimally invasive brain surgery at AHN: Why choose us? 

The AHN Neuroscience Institute’s board-certified neurosurgeons and neurologists have advanced training in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological conditions — with some physicians pioneering procedures that have become the gold standard for care. Along with these specialists, patients have access to the latest technologies for imaging, diagnosis, and robotic-assisted, minimally invasive surgeries.  

Conditions we treat with minimally invasive brain surgery

We use a variety of minimally invasive procedures to treat several different conditions, including: 

Finding the right treatment for you

Our team will work closely with you to determine the best treatment options for your specific condition. Our procedures are highly personalized to each and every patient. Our minimally invasive procedures include:

Endoscopic Treatments: 

• Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV). Treats hydrocephalus by creating a natural bypass for cerebrospinal fluid, eliminating the need for a shunt.
• Endoscopic fenestration. Relieves fluid buildup in the brain by connecting trapped fluid spaces or cysts to natural draining channels.
• Endoscopic aqueductoplasty. Used to reestablish openings between ventricles in the brain.
• Endoscopic intraventricular tumor biopsy or resection. Allows biopsy or resection of a tumor through the fluid spaces.
• Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal resection or repair. An approach through the nose to biopsy or resect tumors of the pituitary gland or adjacent areas as well as repairs defects in the skull base. 
  

Endovascular Treatments: 

• Aneurysm coiling and stenting. Used to isolate the aneurysm and promote blood flow around it.
• Carotid stenting or angioplasty. Used to improve blood flow in the artery running along both sides of your neck.
• AVF embolization. Used to treat dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVF), material is passed through a catheter to shut off the artery passing through the DAVF.
• AVM embolization. Used to isolate and close off abnormal connections between veins and arteries within the brain. 
• Middle meningeal artery embolization. Used to shut down blood supply to subdural hematomas.
• Thrombectomy. Uses a catheter to remove blood clots from veins and arteries. 

Other Minimally Invasive Brain Treatments:

• Keyhole craniotomies. Uses precise, small openings to remove skull-base tumors.
• Eyelid approaches.
• Mini-pterional craniotomies. Accesses skull-base tumors through the junction of four bones, minimizing surrounding tissue damage.
• Laser interstitial therapy. Treats metastatic brain tumors by placing a laser catheter into the tumor. This generates heat which destroys the tumor tissue.
• Vagal nerve stimulation. An implanted device sends signals along your vagus nerve to treat epilepsy and depression.
• Deep brain stimulation. Implanted devices deliver signals to alleviate various symptoms like tremors, rigidity, and impaired posture.
• Endoport surgery. A small tube is used to move through the brain’s lining to access tumors located deeper within the brain.
• Exoscope-assisted surgery. Provides greater precision and enhanced visualization during certain procedures.
• Microsurgical assisted surgery. Enhanced visualization helps surgeons eliminate as much tumor tissue as possible as well as finding damaged blood vessels.
• Robotic assisted surgery. This provides surgeons with a greater degree of precision and a wider range of motion.
• Endoscopic intraventricular monro foraminoplasty. Specific procedure to restore cerebrospinal fluid flow for patients with unilateral or bilateral hydrocephalus.
• Endoscopic assisted shunt placement. A shunt is inserted using the same opening as the endoscope then positioned to facilitate the flow of cerebrovascular fluid.
• Lamina terminalis fenestration. In the case of a ruptured aneurysm, this procedure uses small clips to divert cerebrospinal fluid flow and reduce pressure on the brain.
• Choroid plexus cauterization. Cauterizes (burns) tissue that produces spinal fluid, which reduces its overall flow. 

Contact us

Call (412) 359-6200 to schedule an appointment or learn more about neurosurgery options.