Brain Surgery
Brain Surgery - Related Videos
12:45
Stereotaxic Surgery for Excitotoxic Lesion of Specific Brain Areas in the Adult Rat
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Cited by 22 •
2012
Targeted ablation of specific brain region(s) by infusion of an excitotoxin using stereotaxic coordinates is described. This technique could also be adapted for infusion of other chemicals into the rat brain.
09:25
A Craniotomy Surgery Procedure for Chronic Brain Imaging
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Cited by 182 •
2008
This video and protocol demonstrate how to implant a glass-covered cranial window in rodents. These preparations can be used for chronic in vivo two-photon imaging of the neocortex over time scales of months. It may also be used for other types of imaging, including optical intrinsic signal imaging.
12:04
Intra-Operative Behavioral Tasks in Awake Humans Undergoing Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery
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Cited by 12 •
2011
Deep brain stimulation surgery offers a unique opportunity to examine information encoding in the awake human brain. This article will describe intra-operative methods used to perform cognitive and behavioral tasks while simultaneously acquiring physiological data such as EMG, single-unit neuronal activity and/or local field potentials.
08:28
Rodent Stereotaxic Surgery
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2023
Stereotaxic (or stereotactic) surgery is a method used to manipulate the brain of living animals. This technique allows researchers to accurately target deep structures within the brain through the use of a stereotaxic atlas, which provides the 3D coordinates of each area with respect to anatomical landmarks on the skull. After the skull is exposed, anesthetized animals are mounted on a specialized instrument known as a stereotaxic frame, which enables the precise placement of experimental...
12:13
Considerations for Rodent Surgery
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2016
Source: Kay Stewart, RVT, RLATG, CMAR; Valerie A. Schroeder, RVT, RLATG. University of Notre Dame, IN The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals1 dictates that rodent survival surgery be performed aseptically. Aseptic technique utilizes specific practices that minimize the contamination of the surgical site, including patient preparation, surgeon preparation, sterilization of instruments and other supplies, and the use of a clean and controlled environment. Presurgical planning,...
FAQs
Neuronavigation uses imaging information to help guide instruments toward the intended area. Its value is precision: surgeons can work toward a defined target while trying to avoid healthy and functionally important tissue. In practice, neuronavigation complements diagnosis and intraoperative monitoring, supporting interventions in which inaccurate targeting could affect neurological function or reduce the intended treatment benefit.
Intraoperative monitoring provides information during the procedure while instruments are being used near important brain structures. This supports efforts to preserve healthy and functionally important tissue, rather than relying only on preparation completed before surgery. Its role is therefore closely connected to accurate targeting and the goal of preventing additional neurological damage during treatment.
Accurate diagnosis identifies the disorder that requires treatment, while careful target selection determines where intervention should occur. Both decisions influence whether the procedure can relieve disease, restore function, or prevent further neurological damage. They also help surgeons balance treatment of abnormal tissue with preservation of neural circuits that support normal brain function.
Preserving neural circuits helps maintain the networks responsible for brain function while the surgical team addresses disease. This principle connects technical precision with clinical outcome: removing or treating a problem is not enough if functionally important tissue is harmed. It also explains why surgical findings and stimulation studies can provide information about how specific brain regions contribute to function.
The procedure commonly begins by creating access through a craniotomy or by using a minimally invasive approach. Imaging and neuronavigation then help guide instruments toward the intended target, while intraoperative monitoring supports protection of healthy and functionally important tissue. The overall workflow links access, targeting, tissue preservation, and treatment rather than treating them as separate steps.
Applications include tumors, epilepsy, vascular abnormalities, traumatic injuries, and movement disorders. The surgical objective varies with the condition: treatment may aim to relieve disease, restore function, or prevent further neurological damage. Because these disorders affect different structures and circuits, accurate diagnosis and careful targeting remain central to selecting and carrying out the intervention.
Brain surgery can generate scientific knowledge through surgical findings and stimulation studies. Observations made during clinical intervention can help connect brain structure with function, while stimulation can provide evidence about the role of particular regions or circuits. This makes surgery relevant not only to treating neurological disorders, but also to advancing neuroscience research on functional organization.