Dr Đồng Văn Hệ, Deputy Director of Việt Nam-Germany Friendship Hospital gives a patient a health check-up after endoscopic brain tumour removal through the eyebrow arch. — Photo baochinhphu.vn

HÀ NỘI — The Việt Nam-Germany Friendship Hospital has successfully performed two endoscopic brain tumour removals through the eyebrow arch, marking the first successful application of this technique in Việt Nam.

Previously, such cases required a 20-25cm craniotomy, whereas this new method requires only a 2-3 cm incision. Its success paves the way for minimally invasive neurosurgery, offering safer and more effective treatment options for patients in Việt Nam.

Dr Đồng Văn Hệ, Deputy Director of Việt Nam-Germany Friendship Hospital and President of the Việt Nam and ASEAN Neurosurgery Association, stated that the two patients underwent tumour removal at the anterior skull base using endoscopic surgery through a small incision above the eyebrow arch.

This technique is part of a state-level research project on minimally invasive neurosurgery, approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology. The project's goal is to enhance treatment methods while minimising invasiveness and risks for patients.

Two decades ago, skull base surgery required a large craniotomy, sized 20-25 cm and the use of a microscope. While mid-skull base lesions could sometimes be accessed via an endoscopic transnasal approach, this method was not feasible for tumours in complex or hard-to-reach locations.

With the new approach, surgeons make a small incision in the eyebrow arch, insert an endoscope for illumination and enhanced visualisation, then precisely dissect and remove the tumour.

Over the past week, the hospital successfully performed two meningioma resections at the anterior skull base using this technique. Both tumours were located above the orbital roof, one measuring 1.8 cm in diametre and the other nearly 3 cm.

Following successful surgery, both patients were discharged and made a good recovery.

One of the patients, N.T.H., 49 years old in Hà Nội, returned for a follow-up visit a week after being discharged. He reported feeling well, eating and moving normally, with no outward signs of having recently undergone brain surgery.

Hệ emphasised that traditional surgical methods would have required a large craniotomy or the use of a microscope. However, with this new approach, the entire procedure is performed endoscopically, effectively removing the tumour while preserving surrounding structures.

This technique offers several significant advantages. The endoscope provides direct access to the lesion with flexible viewing angles, allowing surgeons to clearly visualise the entire affected area without excessive manipulation of brain tissue.

In addition, the method reduces the likelihood of damaging critical nerves, such as the optic and olfactory nerves. Unlike traditional approaches, this technique does not require brain retraction, reducing the risk of injury to healthy tissue.

The small 2-3 cm incision allows for a quicker procedure, minimal blood loss, reduced postoperative pain and a shorter hospital stay.

“This technique significantly improves patient outcomes. The incision is minimal, blood loss is negligible and recovery is swift. Patients can resume normal life much sooner,” said Hệ.

This technique is particularly useful for brain lesions, aneurysm surgeries, cranial nerve schwannomas and craniopharyngiomas.

Endoscopic surgery in neurology and skull base procedures has developed later than in other fields, such as thoracoscopy, laparoscopy and arthroscopy. In Việt Nam, neuroendoscopy began in 2003 with simple procedures like treating hydrocephalus, gradually expanding to more complex techniques, especially endoscopic skull base surgery via the nasal route. — VNS