The specifics in the work of a nurse on stereotactic radiosurgery - gamma knife

Nowadays, gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery is perceived as a powerful tool and golden standard in neuro-surgery used to treat brain metastases and some specific benign brain diseases. The concept was developed in 1951 by a Swedish neurosurgeon Lars Leksell, whose idea of navigation inside a three-dimensional field was the base for the gamma knife creation in 1968. This non-invasive treatment uses stereotactic frame on the skull as the outside reference and enables neurosurgeon to treat brain lesions without opening the skull. The device emanates from 192 - 201 individual beam of gamma ray arising from the radioactive decay of cobalt (Co60). They are focused and very precisely pointed at a target, defined with three parameters, destroying it and avoiding damaging surrounding healthy tissue (2,3,4). Existing indications for gamma knife are numerous, and the method is simple and precise. The role of a nurse in the radiosurgery is relatively independent and thus requires constant and active planning. She is usually the first contact with the patient and stays next to him from the pre-treatment, through the intervention and during next visits. Unfortunately, there are not many opportunities for the nurses with the protocol in radiosurgery to find proper training or education (3,10). Gamma knife was started to be used in Serbia from 2 November 2015 when the device Elekta Leksell Gamma Knife Perfection with 192 sources was installed and up to now, over 2500 interventions were accomplished.