Type of Surgery
Information
Last updated: 02/17/2009
A patient best prepares for a hypophysectomy by keeping as healthy and relaxed as possible. Informed surgical consent is always required.
The patient is first seen for evaluation of pituitary functions by the treatment team. An MRI scan of the...
pituitary gland is performed and the patient is seen by a neurosurgeon in an outpatient clinic or at the hospital to assess whether hypophysectomy is suitable.
The patient checks into the hospital the day before surgery and undergoes blood tests, chest x rays, or an electrocardiogram to assess anesthesia fitness. Four to five sticks are attached on buttons on the forehead and marked for a special MRI scan. These buttons and scan help the neurosurgeon to accurately remove the pituitary tumor using sophisticated visualization computers. The patient is visited by the anesthesiologist (the physician who puts the patient to sleep for the operation) and he is asked to fast (nothing to eat or drink) from midnight before the day of surgery. If the hypophysectomy is performed through the nose, the patient is advised to practice breathing through the mouth as the nose will be packed after the surgery.
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Other Information
Hypophysectomy is the surgical removal of the pituitary gland, also called hypophysis. It is most commonly performed to treat tumors, especially craniopharyngioma tumors. Sometimes it is used to treat Cushing's syndrome due to pituitary adenoma.
Other Information
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