NEUROSURGEONS in the country recently had a feel of advanced Brainlab neuronavigation system in brain surgeries. And, in the end, they reached a consensus that the technology is a must-have in all surgery departments across the country.
About 12 neurosurgeons, one-third of their population in Nigeria, said the digital technology made brain surgery a lot precise and faster, as they operated on seven patients, guided by the kolibri neuronavigation device, made by Brainlab.
One of the surgeries had tumour removed from a patient’s brain. The same operation was initially scheduled for mid-year by an Indian hospital.
The technology, being the first ever in West Africa, was brought on loan to Nigeria for the purpose of the just concluded one-week workshop hosted by the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos.
Hitherto, decisions about approach planning for brain surgeries were based on static patient scan. Using the technology at the LUTH, however, digital patient data were uploaded to the kolibri neuronavigation system in the Operating Room (OR), helping the surgeons identify the right approach before making minimal incision.
Sylvain Delayat, who led a team of German experts to the workshop, said that since neuro-navigation tracks tools in real time and displays their position in relation to the patient’s data, the surgeons are guided through procedures, helping to keep skull openings small and minimize damage to healthy structures.
Source: The Guardian
