Bruce E. Pollock, M.D.
Department of Neurological Surgery
Mayo Clinic
200 First Street SW
Rochester, MN 55905
507-538-1564
http://www.mayoclinic.org/bio/12701661.html
Transcript: Deciding between microvascular decompression and Gamma Knife
It’s become clear that many patients need to decide whether they want to undergo a microvascular decompression or undergo a less invasive surgery such as Gamma Knife. When we compare these operations, it’s important to understand that they’re fundamentally different. A microvascular decompression addresses the cause of the pain whereas Gamma Knife Radiosurgery affects your symptom which is the pain.
A microvascular decompression is able to eliminate your facial pain in a nearly immediate fashion. Is able to get you off your medications. And do so in a way that does not create facial numbness.
Conversely, a Gamma Knife procedure is much less risky upfront. It’s done as an outpatient procedure. It may take several weeks to have its effect and the ability to get you pain-free and off of medications is roughly twenty or thirty percent less than a microvascular decompression.
And so for patients in good medical health who have no other contraindications, we believe that a microvascular decompression remains the treatment of choice.