Clinical Evaluation of Ultrasonic Aspiration of Intracranial Tumors

ABSTRACT

The Cavitron ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator has been used clinically in 79 cases for removal of intracranial tumors. Ultrasonic aspiration of intracranial tumors has definite advantage in comparison with the previous conventional technique. The results were summarized as follows; 1) Ultrasonic aspirator provides a method of removing intracranial tumors that are not of a consistency to allow removal with suction and cautery alone. 2) There is a good proprioceptive feedback for the surgeon while using the ultrasonic aspirator. So the blood vessels were selectively exposed, operation was performed without severe bleeding. 3) Ultrasonic aspirator obviates the need for the cautery cutting loop. This is particularly advantageous when dealing with tumors in the cerebellopontine angle or close to important structures, such as the optic nerve or carotid artery. 4) Ultrasonic aspirator allows direct visualization of the tissue being removed.