Department of Neurosurgery, Karolinska Institute: 60 years

The Swedish neurosurgical school was created during the 1920s by Herbert Olivecrona, who became the first professor of neurosurgery at the Karolinska Institute. He pioneered procedures for the treatment of arteriovenous malformations and acoustic neuromas. He was among the first to make direct attacks on berry aneurysms. Many outstanding neurosurgeons in Europe were trained by him. Clinical research to refine and minimize surgical interventions has continued to be the most important feature of the neurosurgery department at the Karolinska Institute. Lars Leksell, Olivecrona's successor, was a leader in stereotactic surgery and the creator of radiosurgery. His tool, the gamma knife, is in worldwide use today. Leksell and his students have defined the indications for radiosurgery and introduced stereotactic techniques into microsurgery. Today, 3000 neurosurgical procedures are performed annually in the four operating rooms of the department of neurosurgery. More than 300 of the procedures are performed with the gamma knife, and at least one-third of the patients are foreign referrals. There is a strong emphasis on clinically oriented research and development. There are research programs for radiosurgery, management of pain, neurooncology, treatment of traumatic brain injury, and treatment of vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage.