Endoscopic Brain Surgery

Xiao Di, MD, PhD, of the Neurological Institute, is performing advanced minimally invasive brain surgeries using a glass rod endoscope and working through a two centimeter incision and crainiectomy. In 2008 he performed Cleveland Clinic’s first endoscopic resections of multiple tumor nodules from posterior fossa; first endoscopic tethering cord release; first endoscopic hemilaminectomy for placement of a syringe-subarachnoid shunt; 
first endoscopic transoral odontoidectomy for basilar 
invagination; first para- and intra-ventricular tumor resection by using extra-endoscopic technique; and first endoscopic CPA tumor resection. He has also performed endoscopic suboccipital crainiectomy for Chiari malformation type 1 for 160 patients so far. Each of these techniques is advancing the art of endoscopic brain surgery for better patient care.