New Laser For Neurosurgery Allows Greater Precision And Efficiency For Removal Of Complex Tumors

Surgeons first used the laser in October when Stephen Abbott, a 70-year-old retired United States Army officer, presented with a brain tumor the size of a plum attached to one of the major veins draining blood from the brain. The tumor was discovered during a routine physical earlier in the year when a test indicated Mr. Abbott was experiencing some hearing loss.

Bernard Bendok, MD, a vascular and skull base neurosurgeon and Andrew Fishman, MD, a neurootologist and skull base surgeon, collaborated on the case and determined that Mr. Abbott was a prime candidate for surgery. The two then merged their specialties to operate on the complex tumor, using the laser, to help them remove the tumor quickly and safely. The removal of the tumor took less than one hour and after just five days Mr. Abbott was home, healthy and back to his daily routine.

The laser, called the BeamPath NEURO™, allows surgeons to direct CO₂ laser energy into deep holes and around blood vessels and other specific nerve structures and the brainstem. It is designed for operating near critical structures in the brain and spine and is used in place of a scalpel to cut tissue and remove tumors. 

“When lasers were first used in neurosurgery some 30 years ago, surgeons were very excited, but it faded quickly because the devices were too cumbersome,” commented Dr. Bendok. “This new tool provides far greater control and precision in tight surgical corridors”

“The laser enables us to be much more efficient during surgery, we are able to remove tumors much more quickly which shortens overall surgery time,” commented Dr. Fishman. “That translates into a quicker recovery for patients.”