Microvascular doppler associated with neuronavigation to intraoperative identification and location of internal carotid artery in transsphenoidal endoscopic pituitary macroadenomas surgery

Abstract

Context: Enhancements in pulsed doppler techniques have made easier to apply those techniques not only to diagnose brain vascular diseases but also in brain surgery, especially to disclose arteries close to tumors and avoid their manipulation. The aim of this paper is to describe the technique of microvascular doppler associated with neuronavigation in transsphenoidal endoscopic surgery to remove pituitary macroadenomas in three patients. Material And Methods: A sterile 2mm 16-MHz probe was used inside a long curved canula of 17 cm length, attached with a neuronavigation reference. The neuronavigation mapping was done with MRI and angiotomography, which took place 24 hours before the procedure. Results: Intraoperatively, the doppler identified arterial flow compatible with the anatomical localization of the cavernous portion of internal carotid artery, as shown by the neuronavigation system, and this place was avoided during surgery, allowing manipulation of the tumor without risk of damage to the internal carotid artery. The results after surgery were total removal of the tumor in all three cases. No postoperative vascular complications were present. Conclusion: The method with microvascular doppler associated with neuronavigation was essential to the intraoperative vascular diagnosis allowing radical tumoral resections while preventing damage to the internal carotid artery.