Neurosurgery

The Department of Neurosurgery at the hospital was established in 1959 and is one of the earliest specialized neurosurgery departments established in Shandong Province. After half a century of unremitting efforts by several generations, the department has continued to expand in scale and improve in overall strength. It has now become a renowned large-scale diagnosis and treatment center for neurosurgical diseases in Shandong Province, a modern clinical department integrating medical care, teaching, and scientific research, and a postdoctoral station and site authorized to confer doctoral and master's degrees for Qingdao University. It is currently a key specialty in Shandong Province and a specialty with distinctive features in the health sector of Qingdao. Its affiliated Neurosurgery Laboratory is a key laboratory of the health sector in Shandong Province. At the hospital's Shinan, West Coast, and Laoshan campuses, Neurosurgery has established the four subspecialty units of cerebrovascular surgery, neuro-oncology surgery, functional neurosurgery, and craniocerebral trauma and NICU. It has 116 general beds and 18 NICU beds, and performs nearly 3,000 operations annually. It has accumulated extensive experience in cerebrovascular diseases, microsurgical treatment of intracranial tumors, surgical treatment of refractory epilepsy, clinical diagnosis and treatment of craniocerebral trauma, and basic research. The development of certain subspecialties, such as the diagnosis and treatment techniques and scale for intracranial aneurysms, has reached an advanced level in China. The department emphasizes the recruitment and training of talent. In recent years, it has recruited more than 10 doctoral graduates and has gradually formed a technical team suited to the department's development. It currently has 10 chief physicians, 13 deputy chief physicians, 11 attending physicians, and 6 resident physicians; among them are 4 doctoral supervisors and 10 master's supervisors. Several physicians have successively studied at universities abroad, including in Germany and the United States. A rationally structured academic echelon has now been formed. Many members hold positions in the Neurosurgery Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, the Neurosurgery Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, the Neurosurgery Branch of the Shandong Medical Association, and the Neurosurgery Branch of the Qingdao Medical Association. The department has undertaken more than 20 national-, provincial-, ministerial-, and Qingdao-level research projects, with research funding exceeding 3 million yuan. These include 7 projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. More than 40 papers have been published in authoritative SCI-indexed journals in this specialty, including Neurosurgery, Clin Neurol Neurosurg, Brain research, The cerebellum, Journal of molecular neuroscience, and Journal of clinical neuroscience, and more than 200 papers have been published in authoritative domestic journals, including the Chinese Medical Journal and Chinese Journal of Neurosurgery. There are currently 4 doctoral students and 25 master's students enrolled.

In recent years, Neurosurgery has maintained long-term friendly cooperation and exchange with first-class neurosurgical centers in China, such as Beijing Tiantan Hospital, the General Hospital of the People's Liberation Army, Peking Union Medical College Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and the Department of Neurosurgery of Shanghai Huashan Hospital, enabling patients to enjoy advanced diagnosis and treatment technologies in China without leaving Qingdao.

Cerebrovascular Surgery Ward

The Cerebrovascular Surgery Ward of the Department of Neurosurgery at Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital is a renowned surgical diagnosis and treatment center for cerebrovascular diseases in the Shandong Peninsula. In recent years, under the leadership of Director Feng Yugong, it has gradually established a rapidly developing and dynamic professional team. It has strong clinical capabilities and currently has 1 doctoral supervisor, 4 master's supervisors, 4 chief physicians, and 3 deputy chief physicians. Surgical treatment of hemorrhagic cerebrovascular diseases, including intracranial aneurysms and cerebral arteriovenous malformations, is a traditional strength of the department. More than 4,000 cases of various intracranial aneurysms have been treated surgically to date. The department has particularly distinctive experience and insight in the diagnosis and treatment of complex and high-risk intracranial aneurysms, reaching a leading level in the province and an advanced level in China. In 2012, our hospital was awarded the title of Ministry of Health Stroke Screening, Prevention and Treatment Base. Accordingly, our department undertook the corresponding prevention and surgical treatment of ischemic stroke and was the first in the Shandong Peninsula to independently perform carotid endarterectomy (Carotid endarterectomy, CEA). More than 100 CEA operations for various types of carotid stenosis have now been completed, producing good economic and social benefits and filling a technical gap in the region. In addition, our department performs intracranial and extracranial arterial bypass procedures for the surgical treatment of ischemic cerebrovascular diseases, including Moyamoya disease, with good treatment outcomes. Department experts also have extensive experience in treating skull-base tumors and pituitary adenomas and can skillfully complete challenging operations, including those for brainstem tumors, petroclival meningiomas, and giant acoustic neuromas. The department currently has 28 beds, 11 physicians, and 10 nurses. It admits nearly 1,000 inpatients annually, performs more than 800 operations annually, receives more than 5,000 outpatients annually, enrolls and trains 3–4 graduate students each year, trains 4–5 physicians from primary hospitals each year, and publishes more than 10 professional academic papers annually. It undertakes multiple research projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province.

Department highlights:

1, Microsurgery for hemorrhagic cerebrovascular diseases:

More than 4,000 craniotomy clipping operations for intracranial aneurysms have been completed to date. In recent years, approximately 200 microsurgical operations for cerebral aneurysms and cerebral arteriovenous malformations have been performed annually, including treatment of complex intracranial aneurysms such as ophthalmic artery aneurysms, giant aneurysms, and posterior circulation aneurysms. The treatment level is advanced in China.

Case 1: Microsurgical treatment of a giant internal carotid artery–ophthalmic artery aneurysm: The anterior clinoid process is drilled away intraoperatively to expose the aneurysm neck; multiple aneurysm clips are used in combination to occlude the aneurysm, and the internal carotid artery is reconstructed.

Case 2: Clip-on-wrapping technique for treating a blood blister-like aneurysm of the supraclinoid segment of the internal carotid artery: During surgery, autologous dura mater is used to wrap the internal carotid artery, and a cross-vessel aneurysm clip is used to occlude the parent artery together with the dura mater. This preserves the integrity of the internal carotid artery while occluding the aneurysm. (This technique was pioneered by Professor Feng Yugong, and the related paper was published in the foreign journal Clin Neurol Neurosurg.)

2, Microsurgical treatment of ischemic cerebrovascular diseases:

The department was the first in the Shandong Peninsula to independently perform microsurgical carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for carotid stenosis. More than 30 CEA operations have now been completed, with good results. The procedure both saves patients' treatment costs (an average of RMB 25,000) and shortens their hospital stays, earning unanimous praise from patients and peers and filling a technical gap in the region. For the treatment of Moyamoya disease, the department actively performs intracranial-extracranial arterial bypass, temporal muscle onlay, and other treatments, achieving good therapeutic effects.

3. Microvascular decompression: Microsurgical techniques for treating trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm, and glossopharyngeal neuralgia.

4. Endovascular intervention for cerebrovascular diseases:

Interventional treatment of cerebrovascular diseases was one of the earlier techniques introduced at our hospital and is applicable to the embolization treatment of vascular diseases such as aneurysms and AVMs.

5, Microsurgical treatment of skull-base tumors:

(1) Microsurgical technique for total removal of sellar-region tumors, including craniopharyngiomas and giant pituitary adenomas, through a pterional approach.

(2) Neuroendoscope-assisted pituitary adenoma resection through a single-nostril approach.

(3) Keyhole minimally invasive technique: A supraorbital keyhole minimally invasive technique has been used to treat sellar-region tumors, including pituitary adenomas and craniopharyngiomas, with good results. This technique has filled a gap in Qingdao and reached an advanced level in China.

(4) Neurological function preservation techniques and microsurgical total resection of acoustic neuromas.

(5) Microsurgery for brainstem tumors: Brainstem surgery has always been a "no-go zone" in neurosurgery. In recent years, 30 brainstem tumors have been completely removed microsurgically, with no deaths and satisfactory postoperative recovery.

Department consultation telephone: 0532-82912323, 82912324.

Neuro-Oncology Ward

The Neuro-Oncology Ward of the Department of Neurosurgery at Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital is one of the important subspecialties of Neurosurgery. It has strong clinical capabilities and is a renowned diagnosis and treatment center for neuro-oncological diseases in Shandong Province. Since successfully performing the first craniotomy for brain tumor resection in August 1959, its technical level and scale have continued to grow. The department currently has 28 beds, 10 physicians, and 10 nurses at the licensed-nurse professional rank. Among them are 1 doctoral supervisor, 2 chief physicians, 6 deputy chief physicians, 5 physicians with doctoral degrees, and 3 physicians with master's degrees. It admits nearly 1,000 inpatients annually, performs more than 600 operations annually, receives more than 5,000 outpatients annually, enrolls and trains 3–4 graduate students each year, trains 4–5 physicians from primary hospitals each year, publishes nearly 10 professional academic papers annually, and undertakes multiple research projects.

All medical and nursing staff of the Neuro-Oncology Ward inherit and carry forward the fine traditions of the Department of Neurosurgery of Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital. Their clinical practice is rigorous and pragmatic, pursuing excellence with meticulous care. Relying on the Brain Hospital's advanced facilities, including a neuroendoscope, fluorescence surgical microscope, ultrasonic aspirator, ventilator, DSA, MRI, spiral CT, and neurocritical care unit, the ward continuously broadens its technical fields, develops new technologies and projects, and continuously provides high-quality diagnosis and treatment services to the broad population of neurosurgical patients. Over the past 5 years, it has successfully introduced new technologies, including endoscopic resection of pituitary adenomas, resection of petroclival tumors through an anterior sigmoid sinus approach, resection of sellar-region tumors through a minimally invasive supraorbital approach, and intracranial-extracranial vascular anastomosis for Moyamoya disease, all with good results.

The Neuro-Oncology Ward mainly admits patients with various craniocerebral and spinal (vertebral column) cord tumors, while also providing diagnosis and treatment for common neurosurgical diseases such as cerebrovascular diseases and craniocerebral trauma. The specific diseases treated include gliomas, meningiomas, pituitary tumors, acoustic neuromas, spinal cord tumors, metastatic brain tumors, skull tumors, intracranial aneurysms, cerebral arteriovenous malformations, cerebral hemorrhage, trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm, hydrocephalus, Moyamoya disease, and craniocerebral trauma.

"Patient-centered care, with quality at the core" is the unchanging pursuit of all medical and nursing staff of the Neuro-Oncology Ward. The patient's recovery is our greatest consolation!

Department address: Brain Hospital, Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital, No. 17-1 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao

Department telephone: 0532-82911327

Department disease diagnosis and treatment features and scope

I.Various intracranial tumors

These include gliomas, meningiomas, pituitary adenomas, acoustic neuromas, metastatic brain tumors, craniopharyngiomas, cerebral lymphomas, ventricular tumors, cerebellar tumors, skull-base tumors, and skull tumors. Neuroendoscopic resection of pituitary adenomas and other diseases has a high total resection rate, few complications, and rapid recovery.

II.Spinal cord and spinal column tumors

These include intraspinal schwannomas, spinal meningiomas, intramedullary tumors, and various space-occupying lesions in the spinal canal. Microsurgical resection of spinal and spinal cord lesions achieves a high total resection rate, thorough hemostasis, reliable neural protection, and reduced hospitalization costs.

III.Other common neurosurgical diseases

These include intracranial aneurysms, Moyamoya disease, trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm, hydrocephalus, Chiari malformation, cerebral hemorrhage, various intracranial cysts, cerebral arteriovenous malformations, cavernous hemangiomas, craniocerebral trauma, skull defects, inflammatory granulomas of the brain, and brain abscesses. Intracranial-extracranial vascular anastomosis for Moyamoya disease is performed with good results.

Academic papers

In the past 4 years, department members have published more than 10 SCI-indexed papers as first or corresponding authors.

Introduction to the Neurosurgery Department of the Laoshan Ward

On January 27, 2007, with the opening of the Laoshan Campus of Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital, the Neurosurgery Department of the Laoshan Campus was established at the same time. Since its establishment, under the personal guidance and leadership of Chief Physician Meng Qinghai, a renowned neurosurgical expert on the Shandong Peninsula and a lifelong expert at Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital, the Neurosurgery Department of the Laoshan Campus has continued to develop and grow. Currently, the Neurosurgery Ward of the Laoshan Campus has 36 beds and 11 professional physicians, including 4 with senior professional titles, 6 with intermediate professional titles, and 1 with a junior professional title. There are 1 doctoral supervisor and 1 master's supervisor. All personnel have at least a master's degree, and 8 hold doctoral degrees. The ward has 17 nurses, 15 of whom have at least a bachelor's degree, and 1 graduate student currently enrolled. Under the leadership of Head Nurse Xie Hongwei, we exchange our compassion, patience, and sense of responsibility for your peace of mind, comfort, and confidence.

The Laoshan Campus currently has internationally advanced diagnostic equipment, including a United States GE 640-slice high-speed CT scanner, a German SIEMENS 3D-DSA system, and a Dutch PHILIPS 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging system, as well as a highly clean neurosurgical operating room. The Neurosurgery Department of the Laoshan Campus is also equipped with a German Leica high-definition neurosurgical operating microscope and video recording system, a German Karl Storz neuroendoscopy system, a United States Stryker cranial power system, a United States Mayfield neurosurgical head holder, German AESCULAP (Snake brand) aneurysm clips and dedicated microsurgical instruments, an intraoperative electrophysiological monitoring device, and a United States Codman intracranial pressure monitoring system, providing strong support for the safe performance of various highly difficult operations.

The Neurosurgery Department of the Laoshan Campus adheres to an open and developmental attitude and maintains close, long-term contact with neurosurgical departments of renowned hospitals at home and abroad. It regularly sends staff to hospitals in China and overseas for exchanges and mutual visits, keeps its medical technologies aligned with international standards, and provides patients with advanced diagnostic and treatment technologies and services.

Over 10 years of development, the Neurosurgery Department of the Laoshan Campus has gradually formed several specialty areas, including comprehensive microsurgical and minimally invasive interventional treatment of cerebrovascular diseases, minimally invasive and endoscopic surgical treatment of intracranial tumors, microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm using multiple approaches, and rapid standardized treatment of craniocerebral injuries. It admits more than 800 inpatients annually, performs more than 500 operations annually, and receives nearly 7,000 outpatients annually.

Yan Zhiyong is responsible for the overall work of the Neurosurgery Ward of the Laoshan Campus, and Che Shusheng serves as deputy director of the ward. After retiring, Professor of Medicine for Life at Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital Meng Qinghai was rehired by the Neurosurgery Department of the Laoshan Campus and continues to relieve patients' suffering under the operating lights. The ward currently has two primary attending teams: the cerebrovascular disease team led by Director Yan Zhiyong and the tumor team led by Director Bo Yongli, specializing in neuroendoscopy. The Neurosurgery Department of the Laoshan Campus also has a special-disease outpatient clinic for trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm, providing services for patients with these conditions.

Specialty development

I, Comprehensive microsurgical and minimally invasive interventional treatment of cerebrovascular diseases

Cerebrovascular disease is common among middle-aged and elderly people and is the second leading disease causing death among patients in China. Rupture of an intracranial aneurysm causes subarachnoid hemorrhage; emboli from the heart and major blood vessels entering the cranium can cause massive cerebral infarction; and various intracranial vascular malformations can cause epilepsy and intracerebral hematomas. These diseases can all cause loss of neurological function and even death. Early and rapid intervention can not only reduce mortality and disability rates but also improve patients' prognosis and quality of life.

After Director Yan Zhiyong completed one year of specialized training in endovascular interventional treatment at Beijing Tiantan Hospital, the Neurosurgery Department of the Laoshan Campus began minimally invasive interventional treatment of cerebrovascular diseases in 2010. It now performs endovascular embolization of intracranial aneurysms, interventional treatment of cerebral arteriovenous malformations and dural arteriovenous fistulas, stenting and endarterectomy for carotid stenosis, and ultra-early thrombectomy for cerebral embolism, with good treatment outcomes. In treating cerebrovascular diseases, the Neurosurgery Department of the Laoshan Campus can use either endovascular intervention or craniotomy and microsurgery, providing patients with more choices while also improving treatment safety. At the Neurosurgery Department of the Laoshan Campus, more than 80 patients with intracranial aneurysms are cured each year, including more than 60 treated through intervention.

II, Minimally invasive and endoscopic surgical treatment of intracranial tumors

Intracranial tumors include various meningiomas, gliomas, pituitary tumors, acoustic neuromas, and cholesteatomas. They can cause neurological deficits and impose a heavy psychological burden on patients and their families. At present, surgery remains the primary treatment for intracranial tumors. With advances in technology, surgery has continually evolved toward smaller surgical trauma and better treatment outcomes. In specific technologies, this is reflected in small-incision minimally invasive surgery and neuroendoscopic surgery. Professor Meng Qinghai has long been engaged in the surgical treatment of intracranial tumors and has extensive experience and comprehensive skills, specializing in microsurgical resection of various intracranial tumors. Deputy Chief Physician Bo Yongli studied in Germany under the internationally renowned endoscopy expert Professor Henry W. S. Schroeder. After returning to China, he actively developed endoscopic surgery for pituitary tumors and ventriculoscope-related procedures, successfully completing, one after another, endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal resection of pituitary tumors with a conchal-type sphenoid sinus, endoscopic third ventriculostomy, endoscopic fenestration of arachnoid cysts, endoscopic irrigation and drainage for ventriculitis, and ultrasound-guided puncture of hypothalamic abscesses, all of which were first cases at Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital. The neuroendoscopic techniques currently performed can treat diseases including pituitary adenomas, tuberculum sellae meningiomas, sellar-region cysts, intraventricular tumors, arachnoid cysts, and hydrocephalus. In addition, multiple highly difficult minimally invasive "keyhole" operations have been successfully completed, including treatment of complex skull-base tumors through a direct subtemporal anterior petrosal incision approach and a supraorbital approach, with satisfactory results. The minimally invasive neurosurgery and neuroendoscopic surgery techniques of the Neurosurgery Department of the Laoshan Campus have now reached an advanced level in China.

III, Microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm using multiple approaches

Primary trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm are two common diseases in middle-aged and elderly people, manifested respectively as paroxysmal facial pain and involuntary facial twitching. Microvascular decompression is one of the most effective methods for treating trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm. The Neurosurgery Department of the Laoshan Campus began minimally invasive treatment of trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm after its establishment in 2007 and has achieved good results. With accumulated experience and the introduction of new technologies, the department currently performs surgery through a small-incision minimally invasive approach. Patients experience less trauma, recover faster, have shorter hospital stays, incur lower costs, and suffer less pain.

To ensure surgical safety, reduce surgical complications, and improve long-term treatment outcomes, the Neurosurgery Department of the Laoshan Campus has proposed the concept of using multiple approaches for microvascular decompression. These approaches include various high-resolution examinations, preoperative multimodal fusion three-dimensional reconstruction of the responsible vessel, 3D printing and surgical simulation, neuroendoscopic technology, a high-definition surgical microscope, and intraoperative electrophysiological monitoring. In treating trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm, the Neurosurgery Department of the Laoshan Campus upholds the concept of "precision neurosurgery" and uses various advanced diagnostic and treatment methods to achieve the goal of curing the disease.

IV, Rapid standardized treatment of craniocerebral injuries

The Neurosurgery Department of the Laoshan Campus has a specialized emergency team with extensive experience and professional training in treating brain trauma. It remains on call 24 hours a day and responds rapidly at any time, ensuring that patients receive the best diagnosis and treatment available in the Shandong Peninsula in the shortest possible time and avoiding delays in diagnosis and treatment caused by wasted time. In treating craniocerebral injuries, the Neurosurgery Department of the Laoshan Campus follows guidelines and diagnostic and treatment standards, strictly controls surgical indications, and provides standardized treatment.

The Neurosurgery Department of the Laoshan Campus works closely with the Business Department, Emergency Department, Operating Room, Department of Anesthesiology, and Intensive Care Unit of the Laoshan Campus, providing a rapid green channel for the treatment of patients with craniocerebral injuries, ensuring rapid diagnosis and treatment without delaying the condition. The operating room of the Laoshan Campus is currently equipped with advanced high-definition surgical microscopes, microsurgical instruments, professional surgical head holders, an autologous blood recovery system, and an intracranial pressure monitoring system, providing protection for patients with craniocerebral injuries.

Guide to medical visits

I, Department location

Outpatient clinic: Neurosurgery Outpatient Clinic, Consultation Room 11, Surgical Consultation Area, 2nd Floor, Building 2, Laoshan Campus of Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital, No. 59 Haier Road, Laoshan District, Qingdao

Inpatient ward: Neurosurgery Department, 6th Floor, Block A, Building 3, Laoshan Campus of Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital, No. 59 Haier Road, Laoshan District, Qingdao

II, Contact information

0532-82913260 (nurses' station)

0532-82913293 (physicians' office)

Health education

I, Intracranial aneurysms

A cerebral arterial aneurysm refers to an intracranial aneurysm and has an insidious course. Intracranial aneurysms have a sudden onset and an extremely high mortality and disability rate; they are therefore called a "time bomb" inside the cranium and are among the most dangerous cerebrovascular diseases. An intracranial aneurysm is a tumor-like protrusion of the arterial wall caused by localized abnormal dilation of the lumen of an intracranial artery. It is a common clinical vascular disease and the most common cause of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Among cerebrovascular accidents, it ranks third, after cerebral thrombosis and hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage. Because the annual incidence of this disease is as high as 1-2/10000, as many as 200,000 new patients with aneurysms occur in China every year. Intracranial aneurysms are one of the most common major diseases threatening human life and health. The causes of aneurysm formation are not fully understood and can be summarized as follows: ① congenital factors; ② atherosclerosis; ③ infection; ④ trauma. Cerebral aneurysms can occur at any age and are most common in the 40-66-year age group.

Small and medium-sized aneurysms that have not ruptured and bled may cause no clinical symptoms. Once an aneurysm ruptures and bleeds, the clinical manifestation is severe subarachnoid hemorrhage with an abrupt onset. The patient experiences severe headache, described as if the "head is about to burst." The patient vomits repeatedly, sweats profusely, may develop an elevated body temperature, has neck rigidity, and a positive Kernig's sign. The patient may even develop impaired consciousness or coma. Some patients have triggers such as fatigue or emotional excitement before the hemorrhage, while others have no obvious trigger or develop symptoms during sleep. Approximately 1/3 of patients die after aneurysm rupture because they do not receive timely diagnosis and treatment. In most cases, the rupture site is sealed by a blood clot and the bleeding stops, after which the condition gradually stabilizes. As the clot around the rupture site dissolves, the aneurysm may rupture and bleed again. Rebleeding most often occurs within 2 weeks after the first hemorrhage. In some patients, blood may enter the vitreous through the optic nerve sheath and cause visual impairment. After subarachnoid hemorrhage, the destruction of red blood cells produces various vasoactive substances, such as serotonin and catecholamines, which act on the cerebral vessels and cause vasospasm. The incidence is 21-62%, and it most often occurs 3—15 days after the hemorrhage. Localized cerebral vasospasm occurs only near the aneurysm and causes no obvious symptoms; it is shown only on cerebral angiography. Extensive cerebral vasospasm can cause cerebral infarction, impaired consciousness, hemiplegia, and even death. Focal symptoms depend on the location of the aneurysm, adjacent anatomical structures, and aneurysm size. Oculomotor nerve palsy is common with internal carotid artery–posterior communicating artery aneurysms and posterior cerebral artery aneurysms, manifesting as unilateral ptosis, dilated pupil, inability to adduct or look upward or downward, and loss of direct and consensual light reflexes. Sometimes focal symptoms occur before subarachnoid hemorrhage and are regarded as warning symptoms of aneurysm bleeding, such as mild migraine or orbital pain followed by oculomotor nerve palsy. At this time, impending subarachnoid hemorrhage should be suspected. If bleeding from a middle cerebral artery aneurysm forms a hematoma, or if cerebral vasospasm and cerebral infarction occur after bleeding from an aneurysm at another site, the patient may develop hemiplegia and motor or sensory aphasia. A giant aneurysm affecting the visual pathways may cause visual acuity and visual field disturbances. After aneurysm bleeding, the severity of the condition varies. These assessments facilitate determination of the condition, selection of the timing of angiography and surgery, and evaluation of treatment efficacy.

At present, the main treatments for intracranial aneurysms are endovascular interventional treatment and microsurgical treatment. Endovascular interventional treatment of aneurysms is the preferred treatment recommended internationally in recent years. The main endovascular embolization techniques used clinically include balloon techniques, coil techniques, balloon remodeling techniques, stent-assisted microcoil techniques, and dual-microcatheter techniques. The purpose of endovascular interventional treatment is to puncture the femoral artery, place a slender microcatheter in the aneurysm sac or at the aneurysm neck, and then deliver soft titanium-alloy coils through the microcatheter to fill the aneurysm sac, eliminating blood flow within the aneurysm sac and thereby eliminating the risk of rebleeding. Microsurgical methods mainly include aneurysm-neck clipping or ligation, aneurysm electrocoagulation, aneurysm copper-wire insertion, stereotactic magnetic embolization, aneurysm hair-shooting, aneurysm wrapping and reinforcement, and laser coagulation.

The Neurosurgery Department of the Laoshan Campus is currently aligned with international standards and has the ability to treat aneurysms by both endovascular intervention and microsurgical clipping. Endovascular intervention has greater advantages for aneurysms such as basilar artery tip aneurysms and ophthalmic segment aneurysms, whereas traditional microsurgical clipping can simultaneously treat cases complicated by hematoma, cerebral herniation, and other conditions. The two aneurysm treatment methods complement each other, giving patients more choices and making the treatment process safer.

II, Pituitary adenomas and endoscopic treatment

A pituitary adenoma is a tumor growing on the pituitary gland and is a relatively common neurosurgical tumor. In patients, its main manifestations are as follows: first, those caused by mass effect, most commonly decreased visual acuity and constricted visual fields; second, endocrine abnormalities. For example, a growth hormone-type pituitary adenoma can cause gigantism or acromegaly, an ACTH-type pituitary adenoma can cause hypertension, centripetal obesity, and other conditions, while a prolactin-type pituitary adenoma can cause amenorrhea and lactation… Some microadenomas are also discovered incidentally during health examinations.

There are several classification standards for pituitary adenomas, and the treatment differs according to the type. For most patients with prolactin-type pituitary adenomas, drug treatment can shrink the overwhelming majority of these adenomas, so surgical resection is not required; other types of pituitary adenomas still require surgical treatment.

The best surgical method currently is endoscopic transnasal resection of pituitary adenomas.

Compared with microscopic transnasal surgery, which is still performed in many hospitals in China, neuroendoscopic surgery has significant advantages: A The patient's trauma is less; B The surgeon has a wider visual field, allowing observation and manipulation of the lesion with almost no blind spots; C The total tumor resection rate is higher, and important tissue structures are more readily protected from injury; D The patient recovers faster, has fewer complications, a lower recurrence rate, and lower hospitalization costs.

III, Trigeminal neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia manifests as paroxysmal pain on one side of the face, with a quality like cutting, burning, needle pricks, or electric shocks, lasting several seconds to several minutes before stopping abruptly. The pain is often located at the upper lip, nasal ala, corner of the mouth, canine teeth, and buccal mucosa and can be triggered by touching the face, changes in facial expression, eating, drinking, brushing the teeth, rinsing the mouth, and other actions. Severe pain causes enormous suffering and seriously affects the patient's quality of life. The generally accepted view regarding the cause of primary trigeminal neuralgia is that the intracranial segment of the trigeminal nerve is compressed by an abnormal blood vessel. Conventional conservative treatments, including oral medications, acupuncture, nerve blocks, and nerve destruction, are often ineffective or prone to recurrence. Microvascular decompression is performed through a minimally invasive keyhole craniotomy with a small bone window 1.5cm in diameter in the posterior fossa behind the ear to explore the trigeminal nerve root. A pad made of special material is used to move the vessel compressing the nerve away from the trigeminal nerve root and place the pad between them, relieving the compression and thereby curing the disease and achieving long-term remission.

IV, Hemifacial spasm

Hemifacial spasm, commonly known as "facial twitching," refers to paroxysmal, involuntary muscle spasms on one side of the face. The twitching usually begins around the eye and gradually extends downward, involving the perioral region and facial expression muscles. In severe cases, it may involve the ipsilateral neck, and emotional tension may worsen the symptoms. Hemifacial spasm affects the patient's appearance and causes inconvenience in daily life and work. Conventional conservative treatment is ineffective or followed by recurrence. The cause of hemifacial spasm is compression of the facial nerve root by an abnormal local intracranial blood vessel. Microvascular decompression is currently the only known method that targets the cause and can cure the disease. Surgery uses a transverse postauricular incision or a vertical incision 0.5cm within and parallel to the hairline, approximately 3cm long. The length of the incision depends on the length and thickness of the patient's occipitocervical region. A bone window 1.5cm in diameter, approximately the size of a one-yuan coin, is opened, and microvascular decompression is used to separate the compressing vessel, achieving the therapeutic goal. Microvascular decompression is reliably effective for hemifacial spasm and has a good long-term prognosis.

Introduction to the Neurosurgery Department of the West Coast Ward

The West Coast Ward of Neurosurgery, a fourth-level subspecialty under the Brain Hospital, was established in 2011 and consists of the former key physicians of the Department of Neurosurgery of Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital. It is a renowned large-scale diagnosis and treatment center for neurosurgical diseases in Shandong Province, a modern clinical department integrating medical care, teaching, and scientific research, and a postdoctoral station and site authorized to confer doctoral and master's degrees of the Medical College of Qingdao University. It currently has 3 chief physicians, 4 attending physicians, and 2 resident physicians; among them are 1 postdoctoral co-supervisor, 1 doctoral supervisor, 4 master's supervisors, 1 postdoctoral fellow, 3 physicians with doctoral degrees, and 7 with master's degrees. Many members hold positions in the Neurosurgery Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, the Neurosurgery Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, the Neurosurgery Branch of the Shandong Medical Association, and the Neurosurgery Branch of the Qingdao Medical Association.

The West Coast Ward of Neurosurgery has 41 beds and is equipped with a NICU and operating room with technical capabilities at a leading domestic level, as well as advanced instruments and equipment including a fluorescence surgical microscope, ventriculoscope, ultrasonic aspirator, neuro-EEG monitor, craniotome, video EEG monitor, intracranial pressure monitor, and ventilator. The department follows the service principle of "putting patients at the center, technology as the foundation, and treatment efficacy as the core" and provides individualized diagnosis and treatment for every patient.

The department has undertaken nearly 10 national-, provincial-, ministerial-, and Qingdao-level research projects, with research funding exceeding 1 million yuan. It publishes more than 10 academic papers annually and has published 11 papers in SCI-indexed journals including The cerebellum, Journal of molecular neuroscience, and Journal of clinical neuroscience. There are 4 doctoral students and 6 master's students currently enrolled, with relatively in-depth research in areas such as the experimental treatment of Parkinson's disease with neural stem cells.

The department performs more than 600 operations annually, rescues more than 100 patients with difficult and critical illnesses annually, and receives nearly 10,000 outpatients annually. The diseases diagnosed and treated include various craniocerebral tumors, cerebral aneurysms, cerebral arteriovenous malformations, epilepsy, hydrocephalus, trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm, spinal cord tumors, Chiari malformation, cerebral hemorrhage, and craniocerebral trauma. It has mature clinical experience in microsurgical treatment, neurointerventional treatment, minimally invasive treatment, and comprehensive treatment.

The department's technical specialties: (1) Epilepsy surgery: anterior temporal lobectomy, tailored hemispherectomy, multiple subpial transections in eloquent brain regions, and other treatments for intractable epilepsy; (2) Neurovascular microvascular decompression: minimally invasive definitive treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm, and glossopharyngeal neuralgia under a microscope or neuroendoscope; (3) Cerebral aneurysm surgery: endoscopic clipping of anterior circulation aneurysms through a supraorbital keyhole approach; (4) EEG-monitored resection of giant acoustic neuromas: routine facial nerve anatomy and function are preserved; (5) Pituitary tumor surgery: routine transsphenoidal approach or endoscopic resection of giant invasive pituitary tumors; (6) Skull-base surgery: resection of complex tumors in the petroclival region, sellar region, and jugular foramen region; (7) Spinal cord surgery: routine microsurgical resection of intramedullary tumors; (8) Pediatric neurosurgery: specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of cranial and spinal cord lesions in children; (9) Neurointerventional surgery: routine embolization treatment of cerebral aneurysms, internal carotid artery cavernous sinus fistulas, cerebral vascular malformations, and other conditions; (10) Emergency neurosurgery: establishing a rapid green channel for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with craniocerebral trauma and cerebral hemorrhage and providing treatment at the earliest possible time.

Consultation telephone: 0532-82919531, 82919532.