MVD: OPERATIVE PHOTOGRAPHS

MVD Positioning

The patient is positioned lying flat (“supine position”) with a small area behind the right ear shaved, and the incision marked.

 

MVD Skin Incision

A 4 to 4.5 cm-incision is marked (1 ¾”) behind the right ear.

 

MVD Suboccipital Craniectomy

The size of bone opening (“craniotomy” or “craniectomy”) shown above is 15 mm, which is less than the diameter of a dime (18 mm).

 

MVD Dural Opening and Approach to the Trigeminal Nerve

Exposure of the right trigeminal nerve (“N”) and the surrounding vein (“V”) and artery (unmarked, on the far side between the vein and nerve).

 

MVD Exposure of the Trigeminal Nerve

Surgical instruments – suction on the left and bipolar electro-cautery forceps on the right – being used through the bone opening.

 

MVD Exposure of the Trigeminal Nerve

The offending artery (“A”) is being dissected away from the nerve (“N”) with a micro-instrument (appearing blurry, just below the letter “A” marking the offending artery).

 

MVD Separation of Artery from Trigeminal Nerve

The offending artery is completely separated far away from the nerve.

 

MVD Placement of a Teflon Felt

A Teflon felt is placed between the trigeminal nerve and the surrounding artery (now covered by the felt), completely relieving pressure off of the trigeminal nerve, thereby completing the surgery of “microvascular decompression” (“MVD”).

 


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