Waterjet resection of brain metastases – first clinical results with 10 patients

The waterjet technique enables precise tissue dissection without thermal damage and with preservation of vessels in general surgery. In neurosurgery, these qualities could help to avoid damage of intact brain parenchyma in tumour resections. The present study reports our first results with this technique in brain metastases. Ten patients with intracranial metastases underwent surgery with the aid of the waterjet. Resection was performed in combination with conventional neurosurgical methods. The follow-up consisted of neurological examination and MRI studies. Intraoperatively, the device was easy to handle. No complications due to the device were observed. Vessels were preserved at pressures below 20 bars. Six of the tumours consisted of soft tissue which was poorly demarcated from the surrounding brain. In these tumours, the waterjet was very helpful. It enabled tumour debulking by aspiration and – more important – precise separation of tumour and brain parenchyma. The remaining four cases were rather hard and well demarcated metastases. In these only separation of the tumour from the surrounding brain was achieved. In conclusion, the waterjet can be applied in surgery of brain metastases without complications. The device appears particularly suitable for soft, poorly demarcated metastases. Further clinical studies with this device are required.