Tubular Retractors for Intraventricular Tumors

Abstract

Abstract The surgical management of intraventricular tumors requires microsurgical approaches that necessitate retraction of deep white matter structures for visualization or the use of endoscopic tools that may be limiting for bimanual manipulation and hemostasis. These limitations served as the impetus for the development of novel tubular retractor systems that have gone through a series of evolution over the past three decades. In this chapter, we discuss the traditional microsurgical management of intraventricular lesions and review the ventricular anatomy and pathology suitable for surgical management. Additionally, a comprehensive review of the experiences of investigators who have developed and adopted minimally invasive tubular retractors to aid in the resection of intraventricular tumors demonstrates the variety of surgical approaches and visualization techniques that can be employed with tubular retractors to aid in the surgical management of intraventricular lesions and minimize patient morbidity and maximize tumor resection.