Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery: Day of the Procedure
On the day of your
vestibular schwannoma surgery, at your scheduled time, you will be taken to a pre-procedure room. Make sure you have a list of your current medications, including prescriptions and any over-the-counter medication, supplements, or herbal remedies you are taking.
To prepare you for your vestibular schwannoma surgery, your healthcare professional will first make sure that you have an intravenous line, or IV. You will receive drugs and fluids through your IV to help relax and comfort you during the procedure.
Patches will be applied to the skin of your chest, arms, or legs for an electrocardiogram, or EKG. The EKG patches record the electrical activity of your heart during the procedure.
Your doctor may be available to answer any last-minute questions that you may have, and your family or friends may be able to stay with you until it is time for you to go to the procedure room.
Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery: The Procedure
Patients undergoing vestibular schwannoma surgery receive general anesthesia. This type of anesthesia uses medication to put you into a deep sleep so that you do not feel any pain, pressure, or movement during the vestibular schwannoma surgery.
After the anesthesia takes effect, your doctor will begin the surgery. The exact type of vestibular schwannoma surgery performed depends on the size and location of the tumor and the level of hearing in the affected ear. Each type of surgery has specific advantages and disadvantages. Talk with your doctor about the type of vestibular schwannoma surgery he or she recommends for you.
During vestibular schwannoma surgery, your healthcare team uses a computer to monitor the facial and auditory nerves.
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