Anatomical study on the structures of lateral ventricle in endoscopic transoccippital surgery

Objective: To provide anatomical basis for endoscopic transoccipital horn lateral ventricular surgery. Methods: The structures of occipital horn, trigone and body of lateral ventricle of 21 adult cadaveric head specimens were observed and measured. The corresponding relationship in 9 fresh adult cadaveric head specimens were observed under the operating endoscope. Results: The distances from occipital horn to frontal horn, temporal horn and interventricular foreman(monro) were respectively 86.0±6.9 mm, 59.5±6.7 mm, 57.3±5.4 mm. The distance from the globe of choroids plexus to interventricular foreman was 40.5±2.3 mm. The height of arcuate bulge of lateral ventricular bottom between the globe of choroids plexus and interventricular foreman was 9.9±1.6 mm. The utmost width in trigone was 9.1±2.1 mm.Under rigid endoscopes from occipital approach, the structures of trigone and the body of lateral ventricle could be shown clearly, but structures of temporal horn could not be shown clearly and easily. Under the soft endoscope, however, the interventricular foreman and frontal horn even could be shown clearly. Conclusion: An ideal operational space in the trigone and body of lateral ventricle can be provided in endoscopic transoccipital horn approach.