Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 31, 2026

Minimally Invasive Thumb-sized Pterional Craniotomy for Surgical Clip Ligation of Unruptured Anterior Circulation Aneurysms

Minimally Invasive Thumb-sized Pterional Craniotomy for Surgical Clip Ligation of Unruptured Anterior Circulation Aneurysms

Published on: August 11, 2015

Bubbles in the head: a new method for brain retraction during craniotomy.

Giannantonio Spena¹, Pietro Versari

¹Division of Neurosurgery, Civil Hospital, Alessandria, Italy. giannantonios@hotmail.com

Acta Neurochirurgica

|July 16, 2011

Summary

Fogarty catheter balloon tips offer gentle brain retraction in neurosurgery, protecting brain tissue from ischemic damage. This technique provides a safe alternative or supplement to self-retaining retractors, improving surgical outcomes.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Enhancing Neurosurgical Training: A Comparative Study of Hybrid, Simulator-Based, and Body Donor-Based Dissection Courses.

World neurosurgery·2026

Same author

A Novel Plasma Microscalpel Based on Airplasma® Technology. A Histological Analysis of Brain Tissue Damage.

Surgical innovation·2026

Same author

Minimizing complications in lumboperitoneal shunt for normal pressure hydrocephalus: Technical note and case series.

Surgical neurology international·2026

Same author

The "O-Ring" technique is effective in reducing cerebrospinal fluid leak in posterior fossa surgery.

Journal of neurosurgical sciences·2026

Same author

Surgical treatment of recurrent glioblastoma: a multicenter perspective from the Italian society of neurosurgery (SINch<sup>®</sup>) and a systematic review.

Neurosurgical review·2026

Same author

Brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs) during pregnancy: An Italian survey and literature review.

Neurosurgical review·2026

Area of Science:

Neurosurgery
Surgical Techniques

Background:

Neurosurgery requires effective brain retraction for visualization while protecting underlying brain tissue.
Self-retaining retractors (SRR) are used but carry a risk of ischemic damage due to cortical pressure.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the use of Fogarty catheter balloon tips for gentle brain retraction in neurosurgery.
To assess the safety and efficacy of this technique as an alternative or adjunct to SRR.

Main Methods:

Utilizing Fogarty catheter balloon tips for brain retraction during surgeries for skull base/midline tumors and anterior circulation aneurysms.
Inserting and inflating the balloon tip under brain lobes or within the interhemispheric fissure after dural opening to aid dissection.

Main Results:

More Related Videos

Microvascular Decompression: Salient Surgical Principles and Technical Nuances

Microvascular Decompression: Salient Surgical Principles and Technical Nuances

Published on: July 5, 2011

Real-Time Intravital Multiphoton Microscopy to Visualize Focused Ultrasound and Microbubble Treatments to Increase Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability

Real-Time Intravital Multiphoton Microscopy to Visualize Focused Ultrasound and Microbubble Treatments to Increase Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability

Published on: February 5, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 31, 2026

Minimally Invasive Thumb-sized Pterional Craniotomy for Surgical Clip Ligation of Unruptured Anterior Circulation Aneurysms

Minimally Invasive Thumb-sized Pterional Craniotomy for Surgical Clip Ligation of Unruptured Anterior Circulation Aneurysms

Published on: August 11, 2015

Microvascular Decompression: Salient Surgical Principles and Technical Nuances

Microvascular Decompression: Salient Surgical Principles and Technical Nuances

Published on: July 5, 2011

Real-Time Intravital Multiphoton Microscopy to Visualize Focused Ultrasound and Microbubble Treatments to Increase Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability

Real-Time Intravital Multiphoton Microscopy to Visualize Focused Ultrasound and Microbubble Treatments to Increase Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability

Published on: February 5, 2022

The Fogarty catheter balloon tip provides gentle, elastic, and adjustable brain retraction.
This method effectively diverts brain tissue from the operative field, facilitating surgical access.

Conclusions:

Fogarty catheter balloon tips are a safe and effective tool for brain retraction in neurosurgery.
This technique can substitute for or minimize the use of self-retaining retractors, reducing potential harm.