Surgical nuances for nasoseptal flap reconstruction of cranial base defects with high-flow cerebrospinal fluid leaks after endoscopic skull base surgery

2012 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. E7 ◽  
Author(s):  
James K. Liu ◽  
Richard F. Schmidt ◽  
Osamah J. Choudhry ◽  
Pratik A. Shukla ◽  
Jean Anderson Eloy

Extended endoscopic endonasal approaches have allowed for a minimally invasive solution for removal of a variety of ventral skull base lesions, including intradural tumors. Depending on the location of the pathological entity, various types of surgical corridors are used, such as transcribriform, transplanum transtuberculum, transsellar, transclival, and transodontoid approaches. Often, a large skull base dural defect with a high-flow CSF leak is created after endoscopic skull base surgery. Successful reconstruction of the cranial base defect is paramount to separate the intracranial contents from the paranasal sinus contents and to prevent postoperative CSF leakage. The vascularized pedicled nasoseptal flap (PNSF) has become the workhorse for cranial base reconstruction after endoscopic skull base surgery, dramatically reducing the rate of postoperative CSF leakage since its implementation. In this report, the authors review the surgical technique and describe the operative nuances and lessons learned for successful multilayered PNSF reconstruction of cranial base defects with high-flow CSF leaks created after endoscopic skull base surgery. The authors specifically highlight important surgical pearls that are critical for successful PNSF reconstruction, including target-specific flap design and harvesting, pedicle preservation, preparation of bony defect and graft site to optimize flap adherence, multilayered closure technique, maximization of the reach of the flap, final flap positioning, and proper bolstering and buttressing of the PNSF to prevent flap dehiscence. Using this technique in 93 patients, the authors' overall postoperative CSF leak rate was 3.2%. An illustrative intraoperative video demonstrating the reconstruction technique is also presented.

2019 ◽  
Vol 131 (5) ◽  
pp. 1625-1631 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takayuki Ishikawa ◽  
Kazuhito Takeuchi ◽  
Yuichi Nagata ◽  
Jungsu Choo ◽  
Teppei Kawabata ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVETranssphenoidal surgery (TSS) is commonly used for anterior skull base surgery, especially in the sella turcica (sellar) region. However, because of its anatomical position, CSF leakage is a major complication of this approach. The authors introduced a new grading reconstruction strategy for anterior skull base surgery with continuous dural suturing in 2013. In this paper the authors report on their methods and results.METHODSAll patients with sellar or anterior skull base lesions that were removed with TSS or extended TSS by a single neurosurgeon between April 2013 and March 2017 at Nagoya University Hospital and several cooperating hospitals were retrospectively identified. Three methods of suturing dura were considered, depending on the dural defect.RESULTSThere were 176 TSS cases (141 conventional TSS cases and 35 extended endoscopic TSS cases) and 76 cases of Esposito’s grade 2 or 3 intradural high-flow CSF leakage. In the high-flow CSF leak group, there were 3 cases of CSF leakage after the operation. The rates of CSF leakage after surgery corresponding to grades 2 and 3 were 2.9% (1/34) and 4.7% (2/42), respectively.CONCLUSIONSDural suturing is a basic and key method for reconstruction of the skull base, and continuous suturing is the most effective approach. Using this approach, the frequency of cases requiring a nasoseptal flap and lumbar drainage can be reduced.


2019 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
John W. Rutland ◽  
Satish Govindaraj ◽  
Corey M. Gill ◽  
Michael Shohet ◽  
Alfred M. C. Iloreta ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVECSF leakage is a potentially fatal condition that may result when a skull base dural defect permits CSF communication between the cranial vault and sinonasal cavities. Flow rate is an important property of CSF leaks that can contribute to surgical decision-making and predispose patients to complications and inferior outcomes. Noninvasive preoperative prediction of the leak rate is challenging with traditional diagnostic tools. The present study compares fluid configurations on early and late volumetric extended echo train T2-weighted MRI by using image tracings and sequence subtraction as a novel method of quantifying CSF flow rate, and it correlates radiological results with intraoperative findings and clinical outcomes.METHODSA total of 45 patients met inclusion criteria for this study and underwent 3-T MRI. Imaging sequences included two identical CUBE T2 (vendor trade name for volumetric extended echo train T2) acquisitions at the beginning and end of the scanning session, approximately 45 minutes apart. Twenty-five patients were confirmed to have definitive spontaneous or traumatic anterior skull base CSF leaks. Semiautomated volumetric segmentation of CSF intensity was performed on both CUBE data sets by using 3D-Slicer software, and volumes were subtracted to obtain accumulated CSF volume. These imaging-derived fluid accumulations were correlated with high- or low-flow states, as well as ultimate treatment outcomes including recurrences.RESULTSOf the 45 patients, 25 (55.6%) had definitive evidence of CSF leakage, and 22 (88%) of these underwent surgical repair. Patients with high-flow CSF leaks had higher early (4.058 cm3 vs 0.982 cm3, p = 0.04), late (4.58 cm3 vs 1.096 cm3, p = 0.04), and accumulated (0.53 cm3 vs 0.11 cm3, p = 0.01) fluid volume measurements than patients with low-flow leaks. The 5 (22.7%) patients who exhibited postoperative CSF leak recurrence had significantly greater early (6.30 cm3 vs 1.23 cm3, p = 0.008) and late (6.87 cm3 vs 1.45 cm3, p = 0.008) volumes. Accumulated volume was not significantly greater in patients with leak recurrence (0.58 cm3 vs 0.22 cm3, p = 0.07). Early, late, and accumulated volumes were significantly correlated with postoperative hospital stay as well as duration of postoperative lumbar drain placement (p < 0.05 for all measures).CONCLUSIONSHigh-resolution CUBE T2 MRI, coupled with precise volumetric segmentation and subtraction of sinonasal hyperintensity, not only demonstrated predictive value in differentiating low- and high-flow CSF leaks, but also correlated with postoperative complications such as leak recurrence. These findings may be useful in the clinical workup and neurosurgical management of patients with skull base CSF leaks.


2008 ◽  
Vol 139 (2_suppl) ◽  
pp. P79-P79
Author(s):  
Adam Mikial Zanation ◽  
Carl H Snyderman ◽  
Ricardo L Carrau ◽  
Kassam Amin

Objective 1) Understand the importance of the nasoseptal flap in endoscopic skull base reconstruction. 2) Learn the techniques and limitations of nasoseptal flap takedowns and reuse during second stage and revision endoscopic skull base surgery. Methods Prospective consecutive analysis of CSF leak outcomes with nasoseptal flap takedown and reuse during endoscopic skull base surgery at a tertiary care skull base center. Results 16 consecutive cases of nasoseptal flap takedown and reuse for endoscopic endonasal intradural tumor surgery were collected prospectively and evaluated for CSF leak outcomes. 10 of these cases were planned second-stage surgeries and 6 were for revision or recurrent tumors. All 16 cases had intradural tumor extension and intra operative CSF leak. 15 of 16 had successful skull base reconstruction without postoperative CSF leak. One patient required revision endoscopic CSF leak repair and bolstering of the defect with a fat graft on post operative day 3. No flap deaths occurred. Endoscopic skull base reconstructive techniques and limitations of flap takedowns are discussed. Conclusions As the limits of endoscopic skull base surgery increases, the limits of endoscopic skull base reconstruction must also increase. The pedicled nasoseptal flap has shown great promise (4% leak rate in over 300 nasoseptal flap skull base reconstructions) at the time of the initial resection. This report illustrates the ability to takedown and reuses the nasoseptal flap in revision cases with great success (94%) and minimal additional nasal morbidity.


2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
David L. Choi ◽  
Kesava Reddy ◽  
Erik K. Weitzel ◽  
Brian W. Rotenberg ◽  
Allan Vescan ◽  
...  

Background Endoscopic skull base surgery continues to evolve in its indications, techniques, instrumentation, and postoperative care. As surgery of the skull base will often violate dura, intraoperative and postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak is not uncommon and represents a potential conduit for air and bacterial contamination. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) requiring continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy undergoing skull base surgery represent a challenging group. However, there appears to be a paucity of consensus regarding the postoperative management of this patient population. The objective of this study is to examine practice patterns and expert opinion on the use of postoperative CPAP and nasal saline in patients with OSA. Methods A 14-item survey was generated by consensus among expert authors and distributed online to members of the North American Skull Base society and other international skull base community members. Data were analyzed for median, mean, and standard deviation variables. Subgroup analysis was completed between surgeons from different geographical locations and operative experience. SPSS22 was utilized for all complex statistical analysis and figures. Results Seventy-one responses were collected from skull base surgeons. In patients with OSA, respondents would resume patients’ CPAP therapy after a mean of 10.1 days (median, 7; standard deviation [SD], 10.2), without a CSF leak. In the presence of a small CSF leak, the mean duration would increase to 14.3 days (median, 14; SD, 9.8) and to 20.7 days (median, 21; SD, 11.8) in the presence of a larger leak. A surgeon’s choice to attribute the relationship between delaying the start of nasal saline and CPAP after the endoscopic skull base surgery with progressively more challenging skull base repair was found to be statistically significant ( P < .001). Conclusion Saline and CPAP therapies are initiated after the endoscopic skull base surgical repairs by surgeons at an increasing temporal delay in relation to the degree and complexity of the skull base defect repaired.


1999 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 651-655 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc S. Schwartz ◽  
James I. Cohen ◽  
Toby Meltzer ◽  
Michael J. Wheatley ◽  
Sean O. McMenomey ◽  
...  

Object. Reconstruction of the cranial base after resection of complex lesions requires creation of both a vascularized barrier to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage and tailored filling of operative defects. The authors describe the use of radial forearm microvascular free-flap grafts to reconstruct skull base lesions, to fill small tissue defects, and to provide an excellent barrier against CSF leakage.Methods. Ten patients underwent 11 skull base procedures including placement of microvascular free-flap grafts harvested from the forearm and featuring the radial artery and its accompanying venae comitantes. Operations included six craniofacial, three lateral skull base, and two transoral procedures for various diseases. Excellent results were obtained, with no persistent CSF leaks, no flap failures, and no operative infections. One temporary CSF leak was easily repaired with flap repositioning, and at one flap donor site minor wound breakdown was observed. One patient underwent a second procedure for tumor recurrence and CSF leakage at a site distant from the original operation.Conclusions. Microvascular free tissue transfer reconstruction of skull base defects by using the radial forearm flap provides a safe, reliable, low-morbidity method for reconstructing the skull base and is ideally suited to “low-volume” defects.


Author(s):  
Erin Mamuyac Lopez ◽  
Zainab Farzal ◽  
Kelly Marie Dean ◽  
Craig Miller ◽  
Justin Cates Morse ◽  
...  

Objectives: The frequency of endoscopic skull base surgery in pediatric patients is increasing. This study’s aim is to systematically review the literature for endoscopic skull base surgery outcomes in children/adolescents ages 0-18 years. Design: A systematic review of the literature was performed in PubMed and SCOPUS databases querying studies from 2000-2020 using PRISMA guidelines. Final inclusion criteria included: case series with 10+ patients with pediatric patients age ≤18 years, endoscopic or endoscopic-assisted skull base surgery, and outcomes reported. Setting: Tertiary care medical center Participants: Children/adolescents ages 0-18 years who underwent endoscopic skull base surgery Main Outcome Measures: Patient demographics, pathology, reconstructive technique, intra-operative findings, intra-operative and post-operative surgical complications. Results: Systematic literature search yielded 287 publications. Of these, 12 studies discussing a total of 399 patients age 0-18 years met inclusion criteria for final analysis. 7 of 12 studies discussed a single pathology. The most common pathology was a skull base defect causing CSF leak. The majority of skull base repairs were made with free tissue grafts. The most common post-operative complication was CSF leak (n=40). Twelve cases of meningitis occurred post-operatively with two of these episodes resulting in death. Conclusions: Endoscopic skull base surgery has been performed recently in the pediatric population in a variety of disease states. Inconsistent individual-level data and reporting standards are present in existing studies posing challenges for comparative analysis. Standardized reporting will aid future reviews and meta-analysis for rare skull base pathology.


2019 ◽  
Vol 81 (06) ◽  
pp. 645-650
Author(s):  
Roshni V. Khatiwala ◽  
Karthik S. Shastri ◽  
Maria Peris-Celda ◽  
Tyler Kenning ◽  
Carlos D. Pinheiro-Neto

Abstract Background The endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) has become increasingly used for resection of skull base tumors in the sellar and suprasellar regions. A nasoseptal flap (NSF) is routinely used for anterior skull base reconstruction; however, there are numerous additional allografts and autografts being used in conjunction with the NSF. The role of perioperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion is also unclear. Objective This study was aimed to analyze success of high-flow CSF leak repair during EEA procedures without use of CSF diversion through lumbar drainage. Methods A retrospective chart review of patients who had intraoperative high-flow CSF leak during EEA procedures at our institution between January 2013 and December 2017 was performed. CSF leaks were repaired with use of a fascia lata button graft and nasoseptal flap, without use of perioperative lumbar drains. Results A total of 38 patients were identified (10 male, 28 female). Patient BMIs ranged from 19.7 to 49 kg/m2 (median = 31 kg/m2), with 18 patients meeting criteria for obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m2) and 12 patients overweight (25 kg/m2 < BMI < 29.9 kg/m2). There was no incidence of postoperative CSF leak. Conclusion In our experience, the nasoseptal flap used in conjunction with the fascia lata button graft is a safe, effective and robust combination for cranial base reconstruction with high-flow intraoperative CSF leaks, without need for lumbar drains.


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