•  
  •  
 

Article Type

Article

Abstract

Introduction
Endonasal endoscopic approaches gained acceptance in managing many benign skull base tumors. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak is a common and serious complication with high risk of morbidities or mortality. Identification and management of intraoperative CSF leak is a critical step in these approaches. Various methods and materials had been described for a skull base reconstruction. The size of arachnoid defect plays a crucial role in selecting the proper method of reconstruction.
Patients and methods
This is a prospective analytical study in which 67 patients with benign skull base lesions who were candidates for endoscopic transnasal transsphenoid surgery were included. All cases were subjected to detailed assessment protocol preoperatively and postoperatively.
Intraoperative CSF leak was meticulously observed and graded according to the size of arachnoid defect, and then reconstruction was done according to grade of CSF leak by grafts or flaps or combination of them.
Results
This study included 67 patients with sellar–suprasellar tumors who were managed by endoscopic transsphenoid approach. Intraoperative CSF leak occurred in 23 (34.3%) cases.
A total of nine (13.4%) cases had grade 1 CSF leak, and all cases were reconstructed with abdominal fat with success rate of 100%;six (8.9%) cases had grade 2 CSF leaks, and all cases were repaired with pedicled nasal flap with success rate (83%); and grade 3 CSF leak occurred in eight (11.9%) cases, and all were repaired with multilayer technique, with success rate of 75%. The incidence of postoperative CSF leak in this study was 4.5%, that is, three patients.
Conclusion
The strategy of skull base reconstruction depending on grade of intraoperative CSF leak according to size of arachnoid defect produces a promising result in decreasing the incidence of postoperative CSF leak and saving the need of unnecessary flaps.
Keywords:
arachnoid defect, reconstruction, sella, skull base.

Download

Share

COinS