ADVANCED IMAGING TO NAVIGATE THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

AS technology makes great inroads into healthcare, the success rates of surgeries and procedures/therapies have gone up manifold over the years.

-  HEMANT KUMAR ROUT

One such cutting-edge approach that has revolutionised healthcare is neuronavigation-guided surgery for brain and spinal procedures, which utilises advanced imaging technology to enhance precision, accuracy, and safety.

According to experts, the technology gives surgeons the ability to see a patient's anatomy in three dimensions and accurately pinpoint a location in the brain or spinal cord with the aid of diagnostic imaging tech such as CT and MRI, or intraoperative images from ultrasound, MRI. It also enables surgeons to track instruments in relation to the patient's anatomy and track the anatomy itself during a surgical procedure.

"Neuronavigation helps and guides neurosurgeons to the deeply seated tumours in the shortest path, avoiding important critical normal structures of the brain and spine, during surgery like a real time assistant. It is an excellent way for navigating the brain and spine, just like a compass in a sea of vital structures of brain and spine," said Dr Asish Patnaik, professor, neurosurgery, AIIMS, Bhubaneswar.

The need for precision

Neurosurgery involves the surgical treatment of disorders which affect any portion of the nervous system including the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system. Neuronavigation has gained popularity, especially for neurological disorders that need to be accessed with pin-point precision for greater success.

Before the surgery, specialised software and imaging techniques are used to create a virtual map of the patient's brain or spinal anatomy. It enables accurate localisation of target structures, facilitates optimal trajectory planning, and enhances surgical outcomes. Over the past decade, neurosurgeons have been accustomed to intraoperative surgical navigation to improve outcomes and reduce morbidity. Although it may seem complex in the beginning, it becomes user-friendly gradually.