The
Department of Neurosurgery at Sri Venkateswara
Institute of Medical Sciences was started in September
1993. The department has made great strides forward
since then, in rendering modern neurosurgical
services to patients. With the acquisition
of state of the art equipment it has evolved
into a full fledged and one of best
equipped neurosurgical centers in state of
Andhra Pradesh.
As the work
load increased the faculty has been strengthened.
Neurosurgeons trained in some of the best centers in
India viz., National Institute of Mental Health and
Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore and CMC
Vellore. The department caters to the people
of Rayalaseema in particular and also gets
referals from entire Andhra Pradesh,
neigbhouring states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka
and even as far as east coast of India.
The department
of Neurosurgery at SVIMS has been providing
round the clock emergency services to the patients in
addition to performing complex surgeries of brain and
spine in specialised fields of
Neurosurgery.
SUB SPECIALTIES IN NEUROSURGERY AND THEIR DEVELOPMENT
The department
has carved a niche for itself in the field
of Cerebrovascular surgery. This department has the
distinction of performing complex surgeries involving
the blood vessels of the brain for brain haemorrhage
and stroke like aneurysm clipping, excision
of arteriovenous malformation of brain, STMC
anastamosis using adjuvants like
hypothermia and cardiac stand still making
Tirupati as the only city other than
Hyderabad where cerebrovascular surgery is
routinely being performed. The department is
in process of establishing a Data Bank of
cerebrovascular diseases for the state of
Andhra Pradesh.
The
department of neurosurgery at SVIMS has forayed into
the field of minimally invasive neurosurgery
developing stereotactic and neuroendoscopic
neurosurgery. Our department is second in state of
Andhra Pradesh and first in Public Sector to acquire
Computer Guided Stereotactic equipment. This
equipment used for accurately localising
lesions in brain utilising computer and is
used in diagnosis and treatment of various
cerebral diseases. It is especially
invaluable in management of small, multiple
and deep seated cerebral lesions.
The department
has recently acquired neuroendoscopy
equipment (Second in the State) and is one of the few
centers in India to boast of this advance in
neurosurgery. This is used to operate on tumors within
the ventricles of brain and for management of
hydrocephalus. It will also be incorporated
during micro neurosurgery to assist surgeons
in providing better 3D vision in deep
seated areas of brain.
The department
has developed skull base surgery specially
for management of lesions at base of brain. This
surgery is immensely facilitated by the use of Midas
Rex pneumatic drill system and ours is the only
department in state of Andhra Pradesh to acquire this
equipment.
The department
performs transphenoidal surgery for
pituitary and other brain tumors where the tumors are
approached through the nose. This greatly reduces the
morbidity associated with surgery and hastens post
operative recovery. This surgery is available
in very few Neurosurgical centers of Andhra
Pradesh.
In the field of
spinal surgery; spinal instrumentation
subspeciality has been developed at our department.
Trans oral surgery, cervical, dorsal and lumbar
instrumentation are being routinely performed for
spinal injuries, tuberculosis and tumors. Microlumbar
and cervical discectomy are done to decrease
the morbidity associated with surgery and
for faster recovery. Spinal reconstruction
surgeries like cervical laminoplasty are
undertaken in the department.
Another
important contribution of the department is in the
field of management of severe head injuries which
involves critical care and ventilatory management in
addition to surgical intervention. Earlier,
critically ill patients from this region of
Andhra Pradesh had to be transported to
Madras, Vellore and Bangalore during the
crucial "Golden hours" following head injury with
resultant disastrous consequences. Now these patients
are being managed at SVIMS. With financial assistance
from Chief Minister Fund treatment for these
unfortunate patients, most of whom are young
is being rendered at Tirupati, at affordable
by the common man.
In addition to
these specialized fields of neurosurgery,
the department performs routine microneurosurgical
procedures assisted by the armamentarium of equipment
which include Zeiss CS.NC II operating microscope,
Ultrasonic surgical aspirator, Aesculap Elan E
motors, craniotomes and a range of micro
instruments. |