[Patient positioning on the operating table in neurosurgery: sitting or lying].

Efficacy and safety of microvascular decompression of trigeminal nerve depending on the position on the operating table were assessed in 200 neurosurgical patients in retrospective observational study It was shown that efficacy doesn't depend on positioning. Lying position eliminates probability of such complications as postural hypotension, hypotension during surgery, tension pneumocephalus and peripheral nerves injury. Sitting position increases risk of air venous embolism by 25 times. Lying position increases risk of postoperative nasal liquorrhea by 4 times, but eliminates risk of postoperative paresis of trigeminal nerve. It is also decreases risk of corneal reflex reduction by 3 times, hyperpathia by 2 times and paresthesias by 5 times, but increases probability of postoperative hyperesthesia by 4 times. Microvascular decompression of trigeminal nerve in lying position is safer than similar operation in sitting position.