Microroll retractor for surgical resection of brainstem cavernomas

Abstract

Background: Safe and complete surgical resection of brainstem cavernoma is difficult without injury surrounding normal structures because the lesions are deep and intra-axial. In this article, the authors describe the "microroll retractor" technique for brainstem cavernoma surgery.

Methods: The microroll retractor is made of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sheet. The sheet is cut in several sizes of square piece and transformed into a tubular shape. We insert this roll retractor via minimal brain incision and keep surgical corridor without usual spatulas during lesionectomy.

Results: This technique was adopted for 7 patients with brainstem cavernomas. In all patients, we achieved total excision; improvement was recorded in 6 patients, and no change was recorded in 1 patient.

Conclusions: The microroll retractor is extremely simple but provides enough surgical corridors for safe total resection of brainstem cavernomas.