1.Minimally Invasive Approaches in Reoperations after Conventional Craniotomies : Case Series
Daniel STARIBACHER ; Guenther C FEIGL ; Gavin BRITZ ; Dzmitry KUZMIN
Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society 2025;68(1):67-74
Objective:
: Reoperations are part of neurosurgical practice. In these cases, an already formed craniotomy seems the most logical and appropriate. However, reoperations via large approaches can be quite traumatic for the patient. Then minimally invasive approaches, being less traumatic, can be a good alternative.
Methods:
: We describe seven consecutive patients who underwent reoperations using minimally invasive approaches in the areas of conventional craniotomies. Surgical Theater® visualization platform was used for preoperative planning. The study evaluated the size of surgical approach, surgical efficacy, and the presence of complications.
Results:
: The size of a minimally invasive craniotomy was significantly smaller than that of a conventional approach. The preoperative goals were achieved in all described cases. There were no complications in the early postoperative period. Although the anatomy of the operated brain region in reoperations is altered, keyhole approaches can be successfully used with the support of preoperative planning and intraoperative neuronavigation. Given that the goals of reoperations may differ from those of the primary surgery, and a large approach is more traumatic for the patient, minimally invasive craniotomy can be considered as a good alternative. The successful use of minimally invasive approaches in areas of conventional craniotomies reinforces the philosophy of keyhole neurosurgery. In cases where goals can be achieved using small approaches, it makes no sense to use large conventional ones.
Conclusion
: Minimally invasive approaches can be successfully used during reoperations in patients after conventional craniotomies.
2.A Successful Control of the Intraoperative Bleeding from McConnell’s Artery during Fully Endoscopic Resection of Planum Sphenoidale Meningioma Using Bone Chip and Bioglue : A Case Report
Guenther C FEIGL ; Roman BOSNJAK ; Daniel STARIBACHER ; Gavin BRITZ ; Dzmitry KUZMIN
Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society 2025;68(2):223-228
The endoscopic transsphenoidal approach is a common approach used in skull base neurosurgery to reach the sellar region. One of the intraoperative risks of this approach is intraoperative bleeding out of the carotid artery. Gentle drilling can prevent carotid artery injury. However, injury to smaller branches, such as the McConnell’s capsular artery, which is located within the surgical corridor, is more difficult to prevent. If such an injury is within the junction to the main trunk of the carotid artery, there will be a small circular defect in this area. This can result in massive blood loss and should be closed surgically immediately. We describe a clinical case of intraoperative bleeding from the McConnell’s artery originating from the carotid arterial segment (C4) in a 78-year-old female patient operated on for planum sphenoidale meningioma via endoscopic transsphenoidal approach, as well as provide a technical note on a possible technique for bleeding control in such cases. Pinpoint carotid bleeding as a result of intraoperative injury can be stopped by wedging a bone fragment in the carotid canal and fixing it in that position with histoacryl glue at the defect site.
3.Minimally Invasive Approaches in Reoperations after Conventional Craniotomies : Case Series
Daniel STARIBACHER ; Guenther C FEIGL ; Gavin BRITZ ; Dzmitry KUZMIN
Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society 2025;68(1):67-74
Objective:
: Reoperations are part of neurosurgical practice. In these cases, an already formed craniotomy seems the most logical and appropriate. However, reoperations via large approaches can be quite traumatic for the patient. Then minimally invasive approaches, being less traumatic, can be a good alternative.
Methods:
: We describe seven consecutive patients who underwent reoperations using minimally invasive approaches in the areas of conventional craniotomies. Surgical Theater® visualization platform was used for preoperative planning. The study evaluated the size of surgical approach, surgical efficacy, and the presence of complications.
Results:
: The size of a minimally invasive craniotomy was significantly smaller than that of a conventional approach. The preoperative goals were achieved in all described cases. There were no complications in the early postoperative period. Although the anatomy of the operated brain region in reoperations is altered, keyhole approaches can be successfully used with the support of preoperative planning and intraoperative neuronavigation. Given that the goals of reoperations may differ from those of the primary surgery, and a large approach is more traumatic for the patient, minimally invasive craniotomy can be considered as a good alternative. The successful use of minimally invasive approaches in areas of conventional craniotomies reinforces the philosophy of keyhole neurosurgery. In cases where goals can be achieved using small approaches, it makes no sense to use large conventional ones.
Conclusion
: Minimally invasive approaches can be successfully used during reoperations in patients after conventional craniotomies.
4.A Successful Control of the Intraoperative Bleeding from McConnell’s Artery during Fully Endoscopic Resection of Planum Sphenoidale Meningioma Using Bone Chip and Bioglue : A Case Report
Guenther C FEIGL ; Roman BOSNJAK ; Daniel STARIBACHER ; Gavin BRITZ ; Dzmitry KUZMIN
Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society 2025;68(2):223-228
The endoscopic transsphenoidal approach is a common approach used in skull base neurosurgery to reach the sellar region. One of the intraoperative risks of this approach is intraoperative bleeding out of the carotid artery. Gentle drilling can prevent carotid artery injury. However, injury to smaller branches, such as the McConnell’s capsular artery, which is located within the surgical corridor, is more difficult to prevent. If such an injury is within the junction to the main trunk of the carotid artery, there will be a small circular defect in this area. This can result in massive blood loss and should be closed surgically immediately. We describe a clinical case of intraoperative bleeding from the McConnell’s artery originating from the carotid arterial segment (C4) in a 78-year-old female patient operated on for planum sphenoidale meningioma via endoscopic transsphenoidal approach, as well as provide a technical note on a possible technique for bleeding control in such cases. Pinpoint carotid bleeding as a result of intraoperative injury can be stopped by wedging a bone fragment in the carotid canal and fixing it in that position with histoacryl glue at the defect site.
5.Minimally Invasive Approaches in Reoperations after Conventional Craniotomies : Case Series
Daniel STARIBACHER ; Guenther C FEIGL ; Gavin BRITZ ; Dzmitry KUZMIN
Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society 2025;68(1):67-74
Objective:
: Reoperations are part of neurosurgical practice. In these cases, an already formed craniotomy seems the most logical and appropriate. However, reoperations via large approaches can be quite traumatic for the patient. Then minimally invasive approaches, being less traumatic, can be a good alternative.
Methods:
: We describe seven consecutive patients who underwent reoperations using minimally invasive approaches in the areas of conventional craniotomies. Surgical Theater® visualization platform was used for preoperative planning. The study evaluated the size of surgical approach, surgical efficacy, and the presence of complications.
Results:
: The size of a minimally invasive craniotomy was significantly smaller than that of a conventional approach. The preoperative goals were achieved in all described cases. There were no complications in the early postoperative period. Although the anatomy of the operated brain region in reoperations is altered, keyhole approaches can be successfully used with the support of preoperative planning and intraoperative neuronavigation. Given that the goals of reoperations may differ from those of the primary surgery, and a large approach is more traumatic for the patient, minimally invasive craniotomy can be considered as a good alternative. The successful use of minimally invasive approaches in areas of conventional craniotomies reinforces the philosophy of keyhole neurosurgery. In cases where goals can be achieved using small approaches, it makes no sense to use large conventional ones.
Conclusion
: Minimally invasive approaches can be successfully used during reoperations in patients after conventional craniotomies.
6.A Successful Control of the Intraoperative Bleeding from McConnell’s Artery during Fully Endoscopic Resection of Planum Sphenoidale Meningioma Using Bone Chip and Bioglue : A Case Report
Guenther C FEIGL ; Roman BOSNJAK ; Daniel STARIBACHER ; Gavin BRITZ ; Dzmitry KUZMIN
Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society 2025;68(2):223-228
The endoscopic transsphenoidal approach is a common approach used in skull base neurosurgery to reach the sellar region. One of the intraoperative risks of this approach is intraoperative bleeding out of the carotid artery. Gentle drilling can prevent carotid artery injury. However, injury to smaller branches, such as the McConnell’s capsular artery, which is located within the surgical corridor, is more difficult to prevent. If such an injury is within the junction to the main trunk of the carotid artery, there will be a small circular defect in this area. This can result in massive blood loss and should be closed surgically immediately. We describe a clinical case of intraoperative bleeding from the McConnell’s artery originating from the carotid arterial segment (C4) in a 78-year-old female patient operated on for planum sphenoidale meningioma via endoscopic transsphenoidal approach, as well as provide a technical note on a possible technique for bleeding control in such cases. Pinpoint carotid bleeding as a result of intraoperative injury can be stopped by wedging a bone fragment in the carotid canal and fixing it in that position with histoacryl glue at the defect site.
7.Minimally Invasive Approaches in Reoperations after Conventional Craniotomies : Case Series
Daniel STARIBACHER ; Guenther C FEIGL ; Gavin BRITZ ; Dzmitry KUZMIN
Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society 2025;68(1):67-74
Objective:
: Reoperations are part of neurosurgical practice. In these cases, an already formed craniotomy seems the most logical and appropriate. However, reoperations via large approaches can be quite traumatic for the patient. Then minimally invasive approaches, being less traumatic, can be a good alternative.
Methods:
: We describe seven consecutive patients who underwent reoperations using minimally invasive approaches in the areas of conventional craniotomies. Surgical Theater® visualization platform was used for preoperative planning. The study evaluated the size of surgical approach, surgical efficacy, and the presence of complications.
Results:
: The size of a minimally invasive craniotomy was significantly smaller than that of a conventional approach. The preoperative goals were achieved in all described cases. There were no complications in the early postoperative period. Although the anatomy of the operated brain region in reoperations is altered, keyhole approaches can be successfully used with the support of preoperative planning and intraoperative neuronavigation. Given that the goals of reoperations may differ from those of the primary surgery, and a large approach is more traumatic for the patient, minimally invasive craniotomy can be considered as a good alternative. The successful use of minimally invasive approaches in areas of conventional craniotomies reinforces the philosophy of keyhole neurosurgery. In cases where goals can be achieved using small approaches, it makes no sense to use large conventional ones.
Conclusion
: Minimally invasive approaches can be successfully used during reoperations in patients after conventional craniotomies.
8.A Successful Control of the Intraoperative Bleeding from McConnell’s Artery during Fully Endoscopic Resection of Planum Sphenoidale Meningioma Using Bone Chip and Bioglue : A Case Report
Guenther C FEIGL ; Roman BOSNJAK ; Daniel STARIBACHER ; Gavin BRITZ ; Dzmitry KUZMIN
Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society 2025;68(2):223-228
The endoscopic transsphenoidal approach is a common approach used in skull base neurosurgery to reach the sellar region. One of the intraoperative risks of this approach is intraoperative bleeding out of the carotid artery. Gentle drilling can prevent carotid artery injury. However, injury to smaller branches, such as the McConnell’s capsular artery, which is located within the surgical corridor, is more difficult to prevent. If such an injury is within the junction to the main trunk of the carotid artery, there will be a small circular defect in this area. This can result in massive blood loss and should be closed surgically immediately. We describe a clinical case of intraoperative bleeding from the McConnell’s artery originating from the carotid arterial segment (C4) in a 78-year-old female patient operated on for planum sphenoidale meningioma via endoscopic transsphenoidal approach, as well as provide a technical note on a possible technique for bleeding control in such cases. Pinpoint carotid bleeding as a result of intraoperative injury can be stopped by wedging a bone fragment in the carotid canal and fixing it in that position with histoacryl glue at the defect site.
9.Minimally Invasive Approaches in the Surgical Treatment of Intracranial Meningiomas: An Analysis of 54 Cases
Guenther C. FEIGL ; Daniel STARIBACHER ; Gavin BRITZ ; Dzmitry KUZMIN
Brain Tumor Research and Treatment 2024;12(2):93-99
Background:
Intracranial meningiomas, being a fairly common disease in the population, often re-quire surgical treatment, which, in turn, can completely heal the patient. The localization of meningiomas often influences treatment even if they are asymptomatic. By modernizing approaches to surgical treatment, it is possible to minimize intra- and postoperative risks, while achieving complete removal of the tumor. One of these methods is minimally invasive neurosurgery, the development of which in recent years allows it to compete with standard surgical methods. The purpose of this study was the objectification of minimally invasive approaches, such as the calculation of the craniotomy area and the ratio of craniotomy area to the resected tumor volume.
Methods:
The retrospective study consisted of a group of 54 consecutive patients who wereoperated on in our neurosurgery clinic specialized on minimally invasive neurosurgery. Preoperative planning was carried out using the Surgical Theater visualization platform. Using this system, the tumor volume and craniotomy surface area were calculated. During the analysis, the symptoms before and after the surgery, classification of tumors, postoperative complications, further treatment and follow-up results were assessed.
Results:
Twelve (22.2%) patients were men and 42 (77.8%) were women. The mean age ofthe group was 64.2 years (median 67.5). The craniotomy area ranged from 202 to 2,108 mm 2 (mean 631 mm 2 ). Tumor volume ranged from 0.85 to 110.1 cm 3 (mean 21.6 cm 3 ). The craniotomy size of minimally invasive approaches to the skull base was 3–5 times smaller than standard approaches. Skull base meningiomas accounted for 19 cases (35.2%), convexity meningiomas for 26 cases (48.1%), and falx and tentorium meningiomas for 9 cases (16.7%). Three complications were reported: postoperative hemorrhage, CSF leakage, and ophthalmoplegia. Relapse was detected in 2 patients with a mean follow-up of 26.3 months (median 20).
Conclusion
Minimally invasive approaches in the surgical treatment of intracranial meningiomas reduce the possibility of operating trauma by several times; they are safe and sufficient for complete removal of the tumor.

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