scholarly journals The Ventral Perspective: Topographic Neurovascular Anatomy of the Cranial Base From Endoscopic Endonasal Perspective: The Median Sagittal Plane

2017 ◽  
Vol 78 (S 01) ◽  
pp. S1-S156
Author(s):  
Lior Gonen ◽  
Srikant Chakravarthi ◽  
Martin Corsten ◽  
Amin Kassam
2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos D Pinheiro-Neto ◽  
Maria Peris-Celda ◽  
Tyler Kenning

Abstract BACKGROUND The nasoseptal flap is the main pedicled flap used for endoscopic cranial base reconstruction. For large anterior cranial base defects, the anterior edge is a concern for the nasoseptal flap reach. OBJECTIVE To present a surgical technique that completely releases the vascular pedicle of the nasoseptal flap from the sphenopalatine artery (SPA) foramen improving considerably the reach of the flap. METHODS A patient with left anterior cranial base fracture involving the posterior table of the frontal sinus, who presented with cerebrospinal fluid leak and contused brain herniation to the ethmoid and frontal sinuses. Unilateral endoscopic endonasal anterior cranial base reconstruction was performed with left sided nasoseptal flap. The nasoseptal flap pedicle was dissected and completely released from the SPA foramen. The flap was left attached only to the internal maxillary artery (IMAX) vascular bundle. RESULTS The flap covered the entire left anterior cranial base, from the planum sphenoidale to the posterior table of the frontal sinus. There was complete obliteration of the cerebrospinal fluid fistula postoperatively with resolution of the radiographic pneumocephalus and the patient's rhinorrhea. CONCLUSION The complete release of the nasoseptal flap pedicle from the SPA foramen is feasible and remarkably improves the reach of the flap. It also increases the reconstructive area of the flap since the entire septal mucosa can be used for reconstruction and the pedicle length is based exclusively upon the SPA/IMAX.


2017 ◽  
Vol 157 (4) ◽  
pp. 731-736
Author(s):  
Noel Ayoub ◽  
Andrew Thamboo ◽  
Peter H. Hwang ◽  
Evan S. Walgama

Objective A radioanatomic study of surgically relevant variations in the greater palatine canal (GPC) on computed tomography (CT) was performed to determine susceptibility during endoscopic endonasal procedures. Study Design Blinded radioanatomic analysis. Setting Tertiary university hospital. Subjects and Methods Fifty consecutive paranasal CT scans (100 sides) were analyzed. Measurements were standardized to landmarks such as the inferior turbinate (IT) and floor of the nasal cavity (FNC) to assess variability and vulnerability of the nerve. Measurements included (1) incidence of maxillary sinus pneumatization posterior to the GPC, (2) distance from the posterior wall of the maxillary sinus to the GPC at the IT and FNC, (3) width of bone containing the GPC, (4) incidence of medial GPC dehiscence, and (5) angle of the GPC extending from the IT to FNC. Results Ninety-one percent of maxillary sinuses were pneumatized posterior to the GPC. The distance from the posterior wall of the maxillary sinus to the GPC was 2.8 ± 1.7 mm (range, –2.3 to 5.9) at the posterior attachment of the IT and 4.1 ± 3.1 mm (range, –6.3 to 11.9) at the FNC. The width of bone containing the GPC was 3.3 ± 1.3 mm (range, 1-8.9), and the medial bony GPC was dehiscent in 38% of cases. In the sagittal plane, the angle of the GPC between the IT and the FNC was 31.9 ± 6.9 degrees (range, 10.8-45). Conclusion The GPC has considerable anatomic variability relative to important surgical landmarks in endoscopic procedures. Preoperative review of CTs to assess vulnerability may prevent postoperative complications.


2019 ◽  
Vol 130 (5) ◽  
pp. 1599-1608
Author(s):  
Jonathan A. Forbes ◽  
Matei Banu ◽  
Kurt Lehner ◽  
Malte Ottenhausen ◽  
Emanuele La Corte ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVEEpidermoid cysts (ECs) commonly extend to involve the ventral cisterns of the cranial base. When present, symptoms arise due to progressive mass effect on the brainstem and adjacent cranial nerves. Historically, a variety of open microsurgical approaches have been used for resection of ECs in this intricate region. In recent years, the endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) has been proposed as an alternative corridor that avoids crossing the plane of the cranial nerves. To date, there is a paucity of data in the literature regarding the safety and efficacy of the EEA in the treatment of ECs of the ventral cranial base.METHODSThe authors reviewed a prospectively acquired database of EEAs for resection of ECs over 8 years at Weill Cornell, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. All procedures were performed by the senior authors. Standardized clinical and radiological parameters were assessed before and after surgery. Statistical tests were used to determine the impact of previous surgery and tumor volume on extent of resection and recurrence as well as the method of closure on rate of CSF leak.RESULTSBetween January 2009 and February 2017, 7 patients (4 males and 3 females; age range 16–70 years) underwent a total of 8 surgeries for EC resection utilizing the EEA. Transplanum and transclival extensions were performed in 3 and 5 patients, respectively. Methods of closure incorporated a gasket seal in 6 of 8 procedures and a nasoseptal flap in 7 of 8 procedures. Gross-total resection (GTR) was achieved in 43% of patients, and near-total resection (> 95%) was obtained in another 43%. Complications included diabetes insipidus (n = 2), postoperative CSF leak (n = 2), transient third cranial nerve palsy (n = 1), and epistaxis (n = 1). With a mean follow-up of 43.5 months, recurrence has been observed in 2 of 7 patients. In 1 case, reoperation for recurrence was required 71 months following the initial surgery. Use of the gasket-seal technique with nasoseptal flap coverage significantly correlated with the absence of postoperative CSF leakage (p = 0.018). GTR was achieved in 25% of the patients who had prior surgeries and in 50% of patients without previous resections. The mean volume of cysts in which GTR was achieved (4.3 ± 1.8 cm3) was smaller than that in which subtotal or near-total resection was achieved (12.2 ± 11 cm3, p = 0.134).CONCLUSIONSThe EEA for resection of ECs of the ventral cranial base is a safe and effective operative strategy that avoids crossing the plane of the cranial nerves. In the authors’ experience, gasket-seal closure with nasoseptal flap coverage has been associated with a decreased risk of postoperative CSF leakage.


2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 7-17
Author(s):  
Enrico De Divitiis ◽  
Felice Esposito ◽  
Paolo Cappabianca ◽  
Luigi M. Cavallo ◽  
Oreste De Divitiis ◽  
...  

Objective: The advent of the endoscope in transsphenoidalsurgery has permitted to expand the indications of such approach also for the treatment of on tumors located in supra, para, retro and infrasellar regions, enabling the neurosurgeon to work under direct visual control in a minimally invasive way. Since 2004 we have started to use the extended endonasal transsphenoidal approach for a variety of lesions involving the midline skull base and, in particular, the suprasellar area, the cavernous sinus and the retroclival prepontine region. Methods: Over a 36-month period, sixty-four procedures have been performed. The series consisted of 29 males and 35 females, aged from 24 to 80 years (median 49.8 years). The mean follow-up was of 18 months (ranging from 3 to 36 months). Among the patients with midline lesions, who were 90.6 % of the total, seven patients had a pituitary adenoma, sixteen patients were affected by a craniopharyngioma, six patients had a suprasellar Rathke’s cleft cyst, seven subjects had a tuberculum sellae meningioma, four had an olfactorygroove meningioma, and six a clival tumor. Other lesions ofthe midline skull base were, 1 chiasmatic astrocytoma, 1 neuroendocrine tumor, 4 post-traumatic cerebro-spinal fluid rhinorrhea, and one optic nerve glioma. Three other patients had anterior cranial base meningoencephaloceles. Results: Overall, gross total removal of the lesion was achieved in 30/49 tumoral lesions (61.2%); subtotal removal was achieved in 12/49 cases (24.5%). The three cases of meningoencephaloceles were all successfully treated. Among the patients with preoperative visual deficits, most of them fully recovered or improved and only two worsened in one eye. Major complications consisted in 2 deaths (one not directly related with the surgical procedure), 6 postoperative CSF leak (one complicated with bacterial meningitis), one ICA injury, and 6 cases of permanent diabetes insipidus.Conclusion: The extended transsphenoidal approach tothe supra and parasellar lesions seems Endoscopy; Transsphenoidal surgery; Extended approach; Parasellar; Tumors; Anterior skull base. A promising minimally invasivetechnique for the removal of lesions affecting these areas,once thought to be suitable only of the transcranial routes.Concerning the lesion removal and the recurrence rate compared with the transcranial routes, it is too early to pose a definitive word, since the follow-up is still too short.


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