Thoracoscopic Sympathectomies

Posted on 10/04/2015

The sympathetic nerves supply the sweat glands in the body. For some unknown reason, some people have excessive sweating in the palms of the hand (palmar hyperhidrosis). These people also have too much sweating in the feet as well. Excessively sweaty palms are not life-threatening, unless you work around electrical circuits. But they can be socially embarrassing and when writing, ...



Microvascular Decompression

Posted on 10/04/2015Microvascular Decompression

There are 12 nerves which emerge from the brain to supply the head and face, including the optic nerve (for vision), olfactory nerve (for smell). These are called the cranial nerves. The 5th cranial nerve, the trigeminal nerve, looks after sensation in each half of the face. In some unlucky individuals, there can be severe pain affecting one of these ...



Stereotactic Craniotomy

Posted on 10/04/2015Stereotactic Craniotomy

Under computer guidance and using stereotactic principles, any part of the head can be touched by a probe and the position displayed on the CT or MRI brain scan. What are the benefits ? Before the skin is cut, the tumour can be located on the surface of the brain so that the skin incision and bone flap are cut ...



Radiosurgery

Posted on 10/04/2015Radiosurgery

Using computer guidance, many beams of radiation (X-rays and gamma rays) are accurately focused onto a target in the brain. In this way, inaccessible or inoperable lesions can be treated avoiding an operation. The accuracy of the system makes sure important brain structures next to the target receive a much lower dose, and hence there is less risk to the ...



Pituitary Surgery

Posted on 10/04/2015Pituitary Surgery

The pituitary is a gland that hangs down from the base of the brain, into the sphenoid sinus that lies behind the nose. It makes many hormones, including thyroid hormone, cortisol, growth hormone, prolactin, oxytocin, anti-diuretic hormone and the sex hormones (FSH/LH & testosterone). Pituitary tumours comprise about 15% of adult brain tumours. Many are found incidentally, when someone has ...