The cranial endoscopy allows access, manipulate and explore deeper regions of the nervous system

The cranial endoscopy are a set of neurosurgical techniques using a camera- light system with working channel to access internal cavities of possible central nervous system less invasively. In neurosurgery endoscopy is primarily used to treat the pathology related intracerebral cavities or ventricles by circulating the cerebrospinal fluid (hydrocephalus, intraventricular tumors ) be known as ventricular endoscopy and pathology of the pituitary and anterior skull base ( pituitary adenomas, meningiomas of anterior skull base, craniopharyngiomas, clivus tumors... ), knowing as transnasal endoscopy.

The main objective of endoscopy applied to neurosurgery is the minimum invasiveness of procedures performed with this technique. Ie, endoscopy allows access, manipulate and explore deeper regions of the central nervous system to the rest of minimally attacking structures and surrounding tissues thus preventing sequelae of injury of these tissues.

Especially endoscopy in neurosurgery is a therapeutic technique allowing to treat disorders such as hydrocephalus by obstruction (creating a"bypass"into the brain basis for the passage of cerebrospinal fluid ), tumors inside the ventricles (eg, colloid cyst or subependymomas ) and pituitary tumors of the sellar region or the anterior cranial base.

Endoscopic, as mentioned, reduces the invasiveness of the procedure, thereby decreasing the risk of consequences resulting from the manipulation of the nervous system. However, it is not a risk-free minimized in experienced hands and with the technology most appropriate technical support. Among the risks of endoscopy highlight ventricular hemorrhage within these brain cavities, which behave very difficult to continue the proceeding for lack of vision. Moreover, the risks of nasal endoscopy noted above derivative closing the opening made in the nasal cavity being able to produce output cerebrospinal fluid outwards. The loss of that liquid is not the problem since it is replenished daily. The main risk is infection, so steps should be taken to seal the pore that allows the output of liquid outwards. Overall risks are minimized today very day thanks to the increasingly advanced technical resources that increase the safety of the procedure.