Jonathan White, M.D.
Department of Neurological Surgery
UT Southwestern Medical Center
5303 Harry Hines Blvd.
4th Floor, Suite 100
Dallas, TX 75390-9167
214-645-2300
www.tiny.cc/jonathanwhite
Transcript: What risks are associated with the microvascular decompression?
Let’s talk about some of the risks of microvascular decompression. Microvascular decompression is a surgery that takes place on the brain itself and it’s purpose is to clear any pressure off of the nerve to the face and in that process alleviate the pain. But that nerve is in a sensitive area right by the brain stem. In order to get there, the skull has to be opened, the brain coverings have to be opened, and the fluid that the brain floats in is removed and this allows access to the nerve. And that nerve is sitting right next to other important nerves including the nerve that moves the face and the nerve for hearing. And many blood vessels come and go in that neighborhood as well. And all of these lead to the risks of microvascular decompression.
So those risks include leaking spinal fluid after the operation. It includes injuring the nerve to the face and causing facial weakness which may even make it look like you’ve had a stroke after surgery. It includes hearing loss sometimes temporary but sometimes permanent hearing loss. And it can cause some numbness too although numbness is much more rare with a microvascular decompression than any other procedure.
Now the combined serious risk of microvascular decompression is hopefully on the order of one or two percent and that includes stroke, weakness, facial weakness, hearing loss. And there’s a two or three percent what I call more of a nuisance complications: an infection which includes antibiotics to be cleared, leaking of the spinal fluid which may even require a second surgery to fix. But those procedures are usually more of a nuisance and usually don’t lead to permanent harm after a procedure.