One of the many benefits we
offer patients is a state-of-the-art Division of Perioperative Anesthesia available for all perioperative
care (preoperative evaluations, postoperative intensive care, pain management,
etc.). Prior to surgery, a surgeon and anesthesiologist will visit with a patient’s
family to discuss the surgical procedure and answer any questions they may have
regarding the pre-, peri-, and postoperative care. After surgery, patients go
to a post-anesthesia care unit or the intensive care unit (ICU), depending on
the magnitude and complexity of the surgery. Generally after a surgical
procedure, a patient will spend time in one of several options:
- The
recovery room or post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) for several hours before
being sent home (generally for minor procedures including biopsies and venous
access placement)
- A
hospital in patient unit to recover for 24 hours or less (for more invasive
procedures or for the initiation of postoperative treatments)
- A
hospital unit to recover for a few days (for more extensive operations)
- An
intensive care unit for a few days followed by transfer to an inpatient
hospital unit until the patient is ready to go home (discharge can occur up to 5-7
days later; for major operations)
Brain tumor patients
in need of surgery at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s are treated by pediatric
neurosurgeons who are experts in neurosurgical oncology and offer access to cutting
edge intraoperative technologies including radiologic guidance systems,
intraoperative MRI, intraoperative ultrasound, and minimally invasive
endoscopic techniques. Collectively, this combination of expertise and
technology enhances the precision of biopsy or resection of tumors, minimizes the
risk to surrounding brain structures, optimizes treatment and the extent of
resection, shortens operating times, and reduces recovery times for our
patients.
A reputation for
innovation and achievement helps us attract some of the world’s most skilled
and accomplished neurosurgeons. Our neurosurgeons are integral members of our
multidisciplinary brain tumor treatment teams. Visit our Brain Tumor Center homepage to learn more about our expertise in diagnosing
and treating pediatric brain tumors.
Neurosurgery Innovations
Our neurosurgeons
are involved in research that offers new hope for children with brain, spine,
or central nervous system tumors. We developed and refined some of the most
influential advances in pediatric neurosurgery, including:
- The latest radiation and chemotherapy techniques for tumors that require treatments in
addition to surgery
- Interventional radiology
techniques to eliminate the blood supply to tumors making surgery safer
- Laser therapy for tumors in
delicate areas where it might be safer to destroy them versus removing them
- Intraoperative MRI, the
introduction of magnetic resonance imaging in a neurosurgical operating room,
allowing doctors to view detailed, real-time images of the brain and spine
while performing surgery
Our laboratory
research focuses on the basic mechanisms of common neurosurgical conditions,
such as:
- The genetic makeup of brain tumors
- Measuring certain enzymatic compounds as markers of
tumor growth and recurrence
- Detailed genetic analyses of malignant and
non-malignant brain tumors in children
Breakthroughs
in our laboratories and clinics play a critical role in children’s health by
improving brain surgery and making the experience easier for children and their
families.
Our
team is actively involved in research to improve our understanding of why brain
diseases occur and to develop better methods of early detection to ensure that
these conditions have as little impact as possible on the developing brain.