Gamma Knife/Radiosurgery

No need for a scalpel

As a Pediatric Neurosurgeon, Dr. William G. Loudon has the necessary skills and expertise to use a large number of advanced surgical equipment, including Gamma Knife Technology. For many adults, the smallest notion of pediatric neurosurgery can lead to thoughts of using a scalpel on a child’s head. Fortunately, with gamma knife technology, Dr. Loudon will not have to make a single incision.

Dr. Loudon searches for effective treatment methods that can also keep a child comfortable and make the treatment as non-invasive as possible. Gamma knife technology also decreases the risk of harming the patient during the procedure. For treating brain tumors and other abnormalities in children, precision is a key necessity. With gamma knife technology, Dr. Loudon can provide the necessary precision.

The process of gamma knife radiosurgery

Unlike regular forms of surgery, there is no incision with gamma knife radiosurgery. The term “Gamma Knife” is misleading yet there is no actual knife in the procedure. The gamma knife technology instead focuses 201 tiny beams of low-level radiation that are otherwise harmless to brain tissue as they individually pass through the brain tissue. These beams all converge on one point, usually the tumor or main area of the abnormality. Another benefit of gamma knife technology is that it does little harm to the surrounding tissue since it is extremely precise.

Since individuals are unique, the procedure can take a single visit or several visits for the desired effect. With gamma knife technology, parents can rest easy knowing that their child will most likely not need to go through intensive surgery. During the gamma knife radiosurgery, the child will be able to relax, lay back and rest during the procedure. The child will wear a head frame and need to remain mostly still during the procedure.

Dr. Loudon will do everything in his power to help the child remain comfortable during the procedure. Children will remain asleep during the procedure with the use of general anesthesia. This will help as we attach the frame. Attaching the frame around the head will involve four pin sites into the child’s head. These pins will hold the head piece in place.

Normally, a neuro-anesthesiologist will administer the anesthesia and stay with the child throughout the procedure. Following the procedure, we will monitor the child and make sure that he or she does not feel any pain from where the pins were. The parents can wait with the child in the pediatric recovery room to keep the child company.

Gamma knife technology

Before any procedure, Dr. Loudon will go over any and all questions with the parents or acting guardians. He will address any concerns, go over the procedure and explain what is necessary for the procedure. There will not be a step that Dr. Loudon does not explain to the parents. We understand that the situation for families can be difficult and chaotic. Past treatments for the child from other facilities may not have been helpful in treating the condition or effective in any way. We offer gamma knife radiosurgery as a less-invasive form of treatment that provides results.

With many situations, a patient will only need one gamma knife procedure within their overall treatment plan. Dr. Loudon will examine the child’s condition and medical history in order to determine the most effective form of treatment. For more information or to see if gamma knife radiosurgery is right for your child, give our office a call at 1-714-677-9463.