A novel simple laser guidance puncture system for intracerebral hematoma.

OBJECTIVE: Accurate localization and real-time guidance technologies for cerebral hematomas are essential for minimally invasive procedures, including minimally invasive hematoma puncture and drainage, as well as neuroendoscopic-assisted hematoma removal. This study aims to evaluate the precision and safety of a self-developed laser-guided device in localizing and guiding hematoma punctures in minimally invasive surgery for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

METHODS: We present the components of the device and its operational procedures. Subsequently, surgeons with different titles conduct hematoma puncture experiments using the device on skull models, comparing it to freehand puncture methods and recording the offset distance from the puncture needle tip to the hematoma center. Additionally, we report the application of this device in 10 patients with ICH, assessing its accuracy and safety in comparison with a neuro-navigation system.

RESULTS: In simulated puncture experiments, the accuracy of the laser-guided group surpasses that of the freehand puncture group, with a significant statistical difference observed between the two groups (P < 0.05). In the laser-guided group, there is no statistically significant difference in puncture accuracy among the surgeons (P > 0.05). In clinical experiments, no relevant surgical complications were observed. The offset distance for the laser-guided group was 0.61 ± 0.18 cm, while the neuro-navigation group was 0.48 ± 0.13 cm. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of offset distance (P > 0.05). However, there was a significant difference in surgical duration (P < 0.05), with the former being 35.0 ± 10.5 minutes and the latter being 63.8 ± 10.5 minutes.

CONCLUSION: The current study describes satisfactory results from both simulated experiments and clinical applications, achieved through the use of a novel laser-guided hematoma puncture device. Furthermore, owing to its portability, affordability, and simplicity, it holds significant importance in advancing surgical interventions for ICH, especially in underdeveloped regions.