Sigmoid incision rescue nasoseptal flap technique for endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery

Conclusion The sigmoid-incision (S-I) rescue flap technique has the advantage of both reduced-invasiveness and providing a sufficient surgical corridor for endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery (EESBS). Objective Skull base reconstruction with nasoseptal flap (NSF) is critically important in managing post-operative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage after tumor removal by EESBS. The NSF needs to be elevated before sphenoidotomy and posterior septectomy to preserve the pedicle. However, most extradural surgery without CSF leakage does not require NSF and, therefore, NSF preparation is often futile. As a result, a rescue flap technique to overcome this problem has been developed, whereby a new S-I rescue flap method is used that enables wide exposure of the sphenoidal rostrum and smooth manipulation of surgical instruments to preserve the NSF pedicle. Materials and methods Starting in April 2014, 19 cases underwent EESBS with S-I rescue flap. Results All patients underwent tumor resection under an adequate operative field with smooth manipulation of surgical instruments. Two complications were experienced. One patient had CSF leak after removal of the nasal packing, but the leakage was successfully closed by conventional NSF. Another patient had epistaxis from the septal wall, but this was controlled by electrocautery.     

Endoscopic surgery of the anterior skull base

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Traditional surgical approaches to the anterior skull base often involve craniotomy, facial incisions, disruption of skeletal framework, tracheotomy, and an extended hospital stay. As experience with endoscopic sinus surgery has grown, the techniques and equipment have been found to be adaptable to treatment of lesions of the anterior and central skull base. A minimally invasive endoscopic approach theoretically offers the advantages of avoiding facial incisions, osteotomies, and tracheotomy; surgery should be less painful, recovery quicker, and hospital stays should be shorter. The study attempted to assess endoscopic approaches to the anterior and central skull base for its ability to achieve those goals. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of 72 cases performed at a single institution from November 1996 to July 2003. A subgroup of 15 patients who underwent endoscopic approach to their pituitary tumors was compared with a similar group of 15 patients who underwent traditional open trans-sphenoidal surgery for their pituitary tumors. METHODS: Patient records were analyzed and information tabulated for age, sex, disease, location of lesion, operative time, use of image-guided surgical systems, blood loss, length of intensive care unit stay, duration of operative pain, length of postoperative hospitalization, complications, and completeness of resection. RESULTS: Of the cases, 86.1% were performed exclusively endoscopically, and 13.9% used a combination of endoscopic and open techniques. An image-guided surgical system was used in 83% of cases. Hospital length of stay was 2.3 days for the exclusively endoscopic group as opposed to 8 days for the combined group. With the patients with pituitary tumors, operative times were similar between the two groups (255.13 vs. 245.73 min), blood loss was less in the endoscopic group (125.33 vs. 243.33 mL), pain duration was shorter in the endoscopic group (10 of 15 patients pain free on postoperative day 1 vs. 2 of 15 patients pain free in the open group), and intensive care unit stay and hospital length of stay were both shorter in the endoscopic group. Complication rates and completeness of resection was similar in both groups, although the open group had a higher rate of complications related to the approach to the sella. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated the safety and efficacy of judicious endoscopic approaches to anterior skull base lesions. An outcomes assessment in pituitary surgery demonstrates advantages of an endoscopic approach in appropriate cases.     

Reverse rotation flap for reconstruction of donor site after vascular pedicled nasoseptal flap in skull base surgery

Endonasal skull base surgery is growing exponentially as a subspecialty. In recent years, advances in endoscopic techniques and intraoperative navigation systems have allowed us to expand the indications of endoscopic skull base surgery. Major skull base centers worldwide are addressing larger and more complex lesions using endoscopic techniques. As a consequence, the skull base defects are more challenging to reconstruct. In this report, we present a novel technique to reconstruct the denuded septum remaining after the use of the vascular pedicled nasoseptal flap. Laryngoscope, 2010     

Submental flap for reconstruction of anterior skull base,orbital, and high facial defects

Purpose

Large anterior skull base, orbital, and high facial defects can present a challenging reconstructive problem. Limited data exists in the literature on the use of a submental flap for reconstructing such defects. We aimed to describe the feasibility, success, and advantages of using variations of the submental flap for reconstruction of anterior skull base, orbital, and high facial defects.

鼻内镜下可用的带血管蒂组织瓣文献综述

鼻内镜颅底外科术后隔绝颅腔与鼻腔的交通是该学科发展面对的挑战之一,近年利用带血管蒂组织瓣,经内镜手术入路修复颅底缺损获得满意疗效。颅底局部性和区域性带血管蒂组织瓣,修复范围广泛、取材方便、抗感染性强、易于成活,是修复颅底缺损的最佳选择。本文对内镜下修复颅底常用带血管蒂组织瓣进行综述。     

Role of perioperative antibiotics in endoscopic skull base surgery

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Direct connection between the sinonasal and intracranial cavities and passage of multiple instruments and graft materials through a contaminated field occur routinely during endoscopic pituitary and skull base surgery. Despite the theoretical risk of intracranial contamination with sinonasal flora, the incidence of central nervous system (CNS) infection following such procedures is not well documented, and the ideal antibiotic regimen has yet to be determined. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective case series of 24 to 48 hours of single-agent perioperative antibiotics in patients undergoing endoscopic skull base surgery. METHODS: Prospective database of procedures performed between January 2004 and May 2006 was reviewed for antibiotic use and infectious complications. RESULTS: The diagnoses of the 90 patients in this series included pituitary tumor (62%), craniopharyngioma (9%), encephalocele (9%), and meningioma (8%). Fifty-eight (64%) patients experienced intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. A variety of autologous, synthetic grafts, hemostatic agents, and tissue sealants were placed through the sinonasal cavity for reconstruction. All patients received 24 to 48 hours of a single antibiotic based on patient sensitivity: cefazolin (87%), vancomycin (10%), or clindamycin (3%). Additional antibiotics were subsequently required during the hospital stay in eight (9%) patients for a variety of indications. There were no cases of intracranial infections or meningitis in patients with or without intraoperative CSF leak. CONCLUSIONS: Despite direct contamination of the intracranial cavity during endoscopic, endonasal skull base surgery, the risk of CNS infections is low. Limited use of a single perioperative antibiotic may be sufficient prophylaxis.     

头皮冠状切口在耳鼻喉科前颅底手术中的应用

对鼻腔、鼻窦肿瘤侵及颅底的7例（恶性4例，良性3例）采用头皮冠状切口施行前颅底手术，除1例巨大骨化纤维瘤未予完全切除外，余6例均完全切除病灶。4例恶性肿瘤中2例硬脑膜因肿瘤侵犯予以切除，3例良性肿瘤因硬脑膜变薄致术中撕裂，缺损的硬脑膜及颅底骨板均用帽状腱膜下层一颅骨膜瓣、颞肌筋膜瓣修补，大的颅底缺损用额肌肌皮瓣加固。良性肿瘤3例中，未完全切除的1例随访1年半病情稳定，另2例随访8年和6年无复发。4例恶性肿瘤中，3例分别随访6年、4年、17月无复发，1例术后18个月颅内复发死亡。所有病例未发生术后并发症。文中对该术式的优缺点以及颅底、硬脑膜的切除和修复问题进行了讨论。     

Improving the design of the pedicled nasoseptal flap for skull base reconstruction: a radioanatomic study

BACKGROUND: Reconstruction of the skull base after an expanded endonasal approach (EEA) is critical to achieve a good outcome. A novel technique based on the use of a pedicled nasoseptal flap has proven to be a reliable and versatile reconstructive option for extensive defects of the skull base. Data regarding the potential dimensions of a nasoseptal flap are lacking in the literature. This pilot study was developed to help optimize the design of the nasoseptal flap and to ensure that when harvesting the flap, its width and length are adequate to reconstruct the defects that are created by various EEAs. METHODS: We analyzed the computed tomographic (CT) scans of four patients who underwent EEAs for skull base lesions. Sagittal and coronal CT reconstructions were generated from axial images. The measurements were divided into skull base measurements, flap dimensions required to cover skull base defects resulting from various EEAs, and potential maximal dimensions of the nasoseptal flap. Measurements were studied for three different EEAs: sellar/transplanar, transclival, and transcribiform/anterior skull base. We measured the potential defects for each of these EEAs and the nasoseptal flap dimensions that would be required to reconstruct them. We estimated all dimensions based on the most extensive defect that could result with each EEA. We then compared these with various modifications of the nasoseptal flap. RESULTS: Two male and two female patients were studied. Twenty-seven measurements were taken to compare the different skull base defects and nasoseptal flaps. CONCLUSIONS: The length of the nasal septum comprises sufficient mucoperichondrium and mucoperiosteum to allow the harvesting of a nasoseptal flap that could cover any defect resulting from an anterior skull base, a transsellar/transplanar, or a transclival EEA. Similarly, the height of the nasal septum has the potential to yield a nasoseptal flap with a width that is adequate to cover the laterolateral aspect of any defect of the anterior skull base and clivus. Skull base defects resulting from combined EEAs, such as those that would create a defect that comprises the skull base from sella turcica to frontal sinus, are beyond the potential dimensions of a single nasoseptal flap. This and other defects resulting from a combination of EEAs require other strategies, such as the use of bilateral nasoseptal flaps, or the use of other reconstructive options.     

Algorithm for reconstruction after endoscopic pituitary and skull base surgery

INTRODUCTION: The expanding role of endoscopic skull base surgery necessitates a thorough understanding of the indications, techniques, and limitations of the various approaches to reconstruction. The technique and outcomes of endoscopic skull base reconstruction remain incompletely described in the literature. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Patients undergoing endoscopic skull base surgery underwent an algorithmic approach to reconstruction based on tumor location, defect size, and presence of intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. A prospective database was reviewed to determine the overall efficacy of reconstruction and to identify risk factors for postoperative CSF leak. RESULTS: The diagnosis in the 127 patients in this series included pituitary tumor in 70 (55%) patients, encephalocele in 16 (12.6%) patients, meningioma in 11 (8.7%) patients, craniopharyngioma in 9 (7.1%) patients, and chordoma in 6 (4.7%) patients. Successful reconstruction was initially achieved in 91.3% of patients. Eleven (8.7%) patients experienced postoperative CSF leak, 10 of which resolved with lumbar drainage alone. One (0.8%) patient required revision surgery. Correlation between postoperative CSF leak and study variables revealed a statistically significant longer duration of surgery (243 vs. 178 min, P = .008) and hospitalization (12.1 vs. 4.5 days, P < .0001) and a trend toward larger tumors (mean, 3.2 vs. 2.3 cm; P = .058) in patients experiencing postoperative CSF leak. CONCLUSION: The algorithm for reconstruction after endoscopic surgery presented in this study is associated with excellent overall efficacy. A greater understanding of risk factors for postoperative CSF leak is imperative to achieve optimal results.