Long-term endonasal endoscopic review of successful duraplasty after endonasal endoscopic skull base surgery.

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to examine the long-term endonasal endoscopic morphological appearance of successful duraplasty after endoscopic skull base surgery for different pathology. METHODS: This study included 65 patients who underwent endonasal endoscopic surgery for different skull base lesions with successful duraplasty. Forty patients had pituitary adenomas, 25 with macroadenomas and 15 with microadenomas. Twenty patients with cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea of different etiologies and three patients with meningoencephalocele were included. There were two patients with skull base meningiomas, 1 with an extensive greater wing meningioma reaching the nasal cavity and the 1 with recurrent olfactory groove meningioma. Different types of autologous materials were used in reconstructing the skull base defect. Clinical follow-up with endoscopic nasal examination was done routinely 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. CT and MRI were performed when indicated. The follow-up period ranged from 6 months to 8 years. RESULTS: Starting from 3 months after surgery to the rest of the follow-up period, endonasal endoscopic view of the site of duraplasty showed that with small skull base defect (<5 mm), there was neither dural pulsation nor prolapse. With moderate-size defect (5-10 mm) there was dural pulsation without prolapse. With larger defect (>10 mm) there was dural pulsation and prolapse. These findings were constant regardless of the etiology of the lesion and the reconstruction material used. CONCLUSION: This long-term study showed that dural pulsation and prolapse at the site of the successful duraplasty is a function of the size of the bony defect and does not depend on the pathology of the lesion or the autologous material used for reconstruction. For any future endonasal procedure for these patients, the surgeons should be fully aware of the state of duraplasty to avoid any complication.

Long-term outcome of endonasal endoscopic skull base reconstruction with nasal turbinate graft.

OBJECTIVE: To study the long-term outcome of endonasal endoscopic skull base reconstruction with nasal turbinate tissue free graft. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 55 consecutive patients who underwent endonasal endoscopic skull base reconstruction with nasal turbinate graft and were available for follow-up. They were 30 patients with pituitary adenomas, 20 with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea of different etiologies, three with meningoencephalocele, and two with skull base meningiomas. Autologous nasal turbinate tissue materials were used in reconstructing the skull base defect. Clinical follow-up with endoscopic nasal examination was done routinely 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were performed when indicated. The follow-up period ranged from 6 months to 8 years. RESULTS: There were no major operative or postoperative complications. Nasal turbinate graft was effective in sealing of intraoperative CSF leak, obliteration of dead space, and anatomic reconstruction of the skull base. There was no evidence of graft migration or inflammatory changes. Starting from 3 months after surgery to the rest of the follow-up period, endonasal endoscopic view of the site of duraplasty showed that: with small skull base defect (less than 5 mm), there was neither dural pulsation nor prolapse; with moderate-sized defect (5 to 10 mm), there was dural pulsation without prolapse; with larger defect (> 10 mm), there was dural pulsation and prolapse. These finding were constant regardless of the etiology of the lesion and the reconstruction material used. CONCLUSIONS: This long-term study demonstrated the efficacy of nasal turbinate graft in sealing of CSF leak without any delayed complications. Other rigid materials may be considered in reconstruction of large skull base defect (more than 10 mm) to prevent dural prolapse and herniation. For any future endonasal procedure for those patients, who had previous endonasal endoscopic duraplasty, the surgeons should be fully aware of the state of duraplasty (e.g., dural prolapse) to avoid any intraoperative complication (e.g., penetration of the prolapsed dura during nasal packing).

Endoscopic endonasal partial middle turbinectomy approach: adaptability of the procedure in a cadaveric study and in surgery for different sphenoid sinus and skull base lesions.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the flexibility, adaptability, and efficacy of endoscopic endonasal removal of the inferior half of the middle turbinate in a cadaveric study and in surgery for the treatment of different sphenoid sinus and skull base lesions. METHODS: Anatomic Cadaveric Study: Five adult cadaveric heads were studied. Six nostrils of 3 cadavers were studied endoscopically after the lower half of the middle turbinate was removed. Two adult cadaveric heads underwent bilateral paraseptal sagittal sectioning and were studied after the lower half of the middle turbinate was removed. Sixty-five patients with different sphenoid sinus and skull base-related lesions were treated through this surgical approach. RESULTS: This approach increased surgical exposure, decreased tubular vision, and offered wider anatomic panoramic orientation with 0-degree and angled endoscopes. In the surgical group, there were no major intra- or postoperative complications. The approach improved exposure, accessibility to the lesion, and permitted good hemostasis, tumor resection, and repair of the skull base defect. CONCLUSION: The current approach provides a wide surgical field without increasing morbidity. It avoids unnecessary trauma to the other nostril as occurs in a binostril approach. The harvested piece of turbinate tissue is an excellent source of donor material for successful reconstruction of the sellar floor without inducing side effects or complications.