Even though every doctor goes to medical school, not everyone has the training necessary to perform brain surgery. According to Dr.Philip Henkin, it is not unusual for a young physician to go through seven additional years of training after medical school to become a neurosurgeon. This type of training is important, particularly when it comes to emergency brain surgery. What are some of the types of emergency brain surgery, and what do people need to know? There are a few important points that everyone must keep in mind.
Cerebral Decompression
One of the most common reasons why someone might need emergency brain surgery is cerebral decompression. According to Philip Henkin, this procedure is required if the pressure in the skull cavity gets too high. If the pressure increases, the brain could be forced out of one of the holes in the skull, which could lead to fatal complications. There are several reasons why the pressure in the brain might be going up, but one of the most common reasons is an infection. By alleviating pressure, this procedure could save someone’s life.
Thrombectomy
Another common emergency brain surgery is called a thrombectomy. According to Philip Henkin, this procedure is done to remove a clot in the brain. If there is a clot in the brain, a stroke develops. Because the brain does not recover as quickly as the rest of the body, it is important to remove the clot as quickly as possible. That is why this is an emergency procedure, and a neurosurgeon will do everything he or she can to remove the clot and restore blood flow. This type of procedure can also be used to stop bleeding in the brain, which can also lead to a stroke.
Repair of a Cerebral Aneurysm
There are also situations where someone might need emergency brain surgery to repair a cerebral aneurysm. A cerebral aneurysm takes place when there is a small outpouching that develops in the blood vessels of the brain. According to Philip Henkin, the biggest danger of this procedure is that the aneurysm could burst. If that happens, people start to bleed into their brain, intracranial pressure can go up, and fatal complications can result. Therefore, it is important to remove the cerebral aneurysm before it has a chance to burst. A trained neurosurgeon is needed to carry out this procedure.
Work With the Right Neurosurgeon
Even though there are numerous reasons why someone might need brain surgery, these are a few examples of emergencies that need to be addressed by a trained neurosurgeon. According to Dr.Philip Henkin, not every hospital has an emergency neurosurgeon on call at all times. Even though it can be scary if you are told that you need to have brain surgery, remember that this is not something you need to go through alone. Rely on a trained neurosurgeon to guide you through the process and put you in the best position possible to make a full recovery.