I posted on main board, but thought I would start a thread here. I will have "Keyhole" MVD Saturday at Duke Raleigh hospital. My surgeon (Dr. Fukushima) pioneered this technique and has 96% success rate. His office is plastered with articles about surgeries he has done on "hopeless" cases of brain tumors, TN, etc. So, I feel the odds are in my favor though I'm still scared to death. The surgery I will have involves only a dime-sized hole in the skull and a shorter incision than tradional MVD. I guess it's like microsurgery. Recovery time is supposed to be only 10 days or so. I will post post my experience in the coming days as reading all of your posts has helped me so much in reaching this decision. There are several articles online about this type of MVD if any of you are still in the researching phase.
What is Keyhole MVD, the size of the incision? I'm heard of Fukushima from my orthodontist who has heard him speak. Says great but cocky. Let me know what you think. I am considering this procedure. Thanks.
Tracy aka Tinkerbill
I think the incision is only about an inch or so. I have pre-surgery consult Thurs and can post a little more info. He has done this procedure 2500 times so I feel I am in good hands. He is from Japan and maybe he just comes across that way?? If he can cure me, I don't care how big his ego is! His office manager has been so helpful and quick to respond to all my questions. He was also relatively easy to get in with considering his reputation and experience and during my appt with him he seemed confident that he could help me. I corresponded a few months back with a lady who had this surgery performed by him 6 or so years ago. She has MS and had pain come back and had regular MVD done a few years later. She said the experiences were very different and the keyhole surgery was much easier by far. Had she not moved across country she would have gone back to him for second surgery.
I am excited to hear about this surgery. Please post more about it!
My first MVD was performed in 2009 and sounds exactly as what you describe here as a Keyhole MVD. I've never heard that term used before and it may be something that Dr. Fukushima has coined for his procedure. I will be having a second MVD sometime in August 2012 and the surgeon says he will follow the exact surgery as in 2009. We'll see what they find this time. I'm thinking of having a bung type plug installed for easier access.
I had pre-op today and was very re-assured by what the hospital staff had to say about Dr. Fukashima. Yes, he did pioneer this particular procedure. I asked his assistant why more surgeons did not do it and she said that many just don't want to learn a new way. It was not a hard decision for me when I compared the risks, incision, etc. to the MVD that other doctors perform. That is not to knock what other people have had done or had success with. But my incision will be 2 inches and my recovery should be 1-2 weeks. That sounds much more desirable to me. His 96% success rate give me hope as well. I am nervous, but I need relief from this pain!
I have also seen it described as endoscopic MVD, or EVD.