Abstract

The use of the operating microscope revolutionized neurosurgery. The illumination and magnification allowed visualization of the desired area of the brain with much less retraction on normal brain. Microinstrumentation flourished. Various lasers and ultrasonic aspirators were adopted.

Abstract

There is currently a great deal of interest in endoscopy in the field of neurosurgery. Given that the central nervous system is bathed in a clear fluid, the brain and spine have always seemed perfect environments in which to use endoscopes, and attempts have been made to do so since the early years of the century. The delicacy of the maneuvers required, the size of the endoscopes, and the rapid advances in other forms of neurosurgical technology all served to hamper the development of this field, until recently. Endoscopes with diameters ofless than 1mm are now available, as are endoscopes with irrigation and working channels in addition to a degree of controlled flexibility as small as 2.3 mm.The only limits to the greater use of endoscopes in the brain are human ingenuity and human expertise-arguably infinite resources.