scholarly journals Endoscopic resection through a retrosigmoid transmeatal approach of a large-sized vestibular schwannoma: operative video and technical nuances

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. V2
Author(s):  
Sebastián J. M. Giovannini ◽  
Guido Caffaratti ◽  
Tomas Ries Centeno ◽  
Mauro Ruella ◽  
Facundo Villamil ◽  
...  

Surgical management of vestibular schwannomas has improved over the last 30 years. Whereas in the past the primary goal was to preserve the patient’s life, today neurological function safeguarding is the main objective, with numerous strategies involving single resection, staged resections, postoperative radiosurgery, or single radiosurgery. The retrosigmoid approach remains the primary pathway for surgical access to the cerebellopontine angle (CPA). The use of an endoscope has great advantages. It contributes to the visualization and resection of residual tumor and also reduces the need for cerebellar retraction. The authors present a fully endoscopic resection of a large-sized vestibular schwannoma with facial nerve preservation. The video can be found here: https://stream.cadmore.media/r10.3171/2021.7.FOCVID21106

2012 ◽  
Vol 116 (4) ◽  
pp. 697-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil Roundy ◽  
Johnny B. Delashaw ◽  
Justin S. Cetas

Object Facial nerve paresis can be a devastating complication following resection of large (> 2.5 cm) cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumors. The authors have developed and used a new high-density diffusion tensor imaging (HD-DT imaging) method, aimed at preoperatively identifying the location and course of the facial nerve in relation to large CPA tumors. Their study objective was to preoperatively identify the facial nerve in patients with large CPA tumors and compare their HD-DT imaging method with a traditional standard DT imaging method and correlate with intraoperative findings. Methods The authors prospectively studied 5 patients with large (> 2.5 cm) CPA tumors. All patients underwent preoperative traditional standard- and HD-DT imaging. Imaging results were correlated with intraoperative findings. Results Utilizing their HD-DT imaging method, the authors positively identified the location and course of the facial nerve in all patients. In contrast, using a standard DT imaging method, the authors were unable to identify the facial nerve in 4 of the 5 patients. Conclusions The HD-DT imaging method that the authors describe and use has proven to be a powerful, accurate, and rapid method for preoperatively identifying the facial nerve in relation to large CPA tumors. Routine integration of HD-DT imaging in preoperative planning for CPA tumor resection could lead to improved facial nerve preservation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 79 (S 04) ◽  
pp. S362-S370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Constantin Tuleasca ◽  
Alda Rocca ◽  
Mercy George ◽  
Etienne Pralong ◽  
Luis Schiappacasse ◽  
...  

Objective Planned subtotal resection followed by Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) in patients with large vestibular schwannoma (VS) has emerged during the past decade, with the aim of a better functional outcome for facial and cochlear function. Methods We prospectively collected patient data, surgical, and dosimetric parameters of a consecutive series of patients treated by this method at Lausanne University Hospital during the past 8 years. Results A consecutive series of 47 patients were treated between July 2010 and January 2018. The mean follow-up after surgery was 37.5 months (median: 36, range: 0.5–96). Mean presurgical tumor volume was 11.8 mL (1.47–34.9). Postoperative status showed normal facial nerve function (House–Brackmann I) in all patients. In a subgroup of 28 patients, with serviceable hearing before surgery and in which cochlear nerve preservation was attempted at surgery, 26 (92.8%) retained serviceable hearing. Nineteen had good or excellent hearing (Gardner–Robertson class 1) before surgery, and 16 (84.2%) retained it after surgery. Mean duration between surgery and GKS was 6 months (median: 5, range: 3–13.9). Mean residual volume as compared with the preoperative one at GKS was 31%. Mean marginal dose was 12 Gy (11–12). Mean follow-up after GKS was 34.4 months (6–84). Conclusion Our data show excellent results in large VS management with a combined approach of microsurgical subtotal resection and GKS on the residual tumor, with regard to the functional outcome and tumor control. Longer term follow-up is necessary to fully evaluate this approach, especially regarding tumor control.


Author(s):  
Nicolas Bovo ◽  
Shahan Momjian ◽  
Renato Gondar ◽  
Philippe Bijlenga ◽  
Karl Schaller ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to determine the performance of the standard alarm criterion of motor evoked potentials (MEPs) of the facial nerve in surgeries performed for resections of vestibular schwannomas or of other lesions of the cerebellopontine angle. Methods This retrospective study included 33 patients (16 with vestibular schwannomas and 17 with other lesions) who underwent the resection surgery with transcranial MEPs of the facial nerve. A reproducible 50% decrease in MEP amplitude, resistant to a 10% increase in stimulation intensity, was applied as the alarm criterion during surgery. Facial muscular function was clinically evaluated with the House–Brackmann score (HBS), pre- and postsurgery at 3 months. Results In the patient group with vestibular schwannoma, postoperatively, the highest sensitivity and negative predictive values were found for a 30% decrease in MEP amplitude, that is, a criterion stricter than the 50% decrease in MEP amplitude criterion, prone to trigger more warnings, used intraoperatively. With this new criterion, the sensitivity would be 88.9% and the negative predictive value would be 85.7%. In the patient group with other lesions of the cerebellopontine angle, the highest sensitivity and negative predictive values were found equally for 50, 60, or 70% decrease in MEP amplitude. With these criteria, the sensitivities and the negative predictive values would be 100.0%. Conclusion Different alarm criteria were found for surgeries for vestibular schwannomas and for other lesions of the cerebellopontine angle. The study consolidates the stricter alarm criterion, that is, a criterion prone to trigger early warnings, as found previously by others for vestibular schwannoma surgeries (30% decrease in MEP amplitude).


2019 ◽  
Vol 80 (S 03) ◽  
pp. S287-S287
Author(s):  
Walter C. Jean ◽  
Kyle Mueller ◽  
H. Jeffrey Kim

Objective This video was aimed to demonstrate the middle fossa approach for the resection of an intracanalicular vestibular schwannoma. Design Present study is a video case report. Setting The operative video is showing a microsurgical resection. Participant The patient was a 59-year-old man who presented with worsening headache and right-side hearing loss. He was found to have a right intracanalicular vestibular schwannoma. After weighing risks and benefits, he chose surgery to remove his tumor. Since his hearing remained “serviceable,” a middle fossa approach was chosen. Main Outcome Measures Pre- and postoperative patient photographs evaluated the muscles of facial expression as a marker for facial nerve preservation. Results A right middle fossa craniotomy was performed which allowed access to the floor of the middle cranial fossa. The greater superficial petrosal nerve (GSPN) and arcuate eminence were identified. Using these two landmarks, the internal acoustic canal (IAC) was localized. After drilling the petrous bone, the IAC was unroofed. The facial nerve was identified by stimulation and visual inspection and the tumor was separated from it with microsurgical dissection. In the end, the tumor was fully resected. Both the facial and cochlear nerves were preserved. Postoperatively, the patient experienced no facial palsy and his hearing is at baseline. Conclusion With radiosurgery gaining increasing popularity, patients with intracanalicular vestibular schwannomas are frequently treated with it, or are managed with observation. The middle fossa approach is therefore becoming a “lost art,” but as demonstrated in this video, remains an effective technique for tumor removal and nerve preservation.The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/MD6o3DF6jYg.


2019 ◽  
Vol 80 (S 03) ◽  
pp. S267-S268
Author(s):  
James K. Liu ◽  
Vincent N. Dodson ◽  
Robert W. Jyung

The translabyrinthine approach is advantageous for the resection of large acoustic neuromas compressing the brainstem when hearing loss is nonserviceable. This approach provides wide access through the presigmoid corridor without prolonged cerebellar retraction. Early identification of the facial nerve at the fundus is also achieved. In this operative video atlas manuscript, the authors demonstrate a step-by-step technique for microsurgical resection of a large cystic acoustic neuroma via a translabyrinthine approach. The nuances of microsurgical and skull base technique are illustrated including performing extracapsular dissection of the tumor while maintaining a subperineural plane of dissection to preserve the facial nerve. This strategy maximizes the extent of removal while preserving facial nerve function. A microscopic remnant of tumor was left adherent to the perineurium. A near-total resection of the tumor was achieved and the facial nerve stimulated briskly at low thresholds. Other than preexisting hearing loss, the patient was neurologically intact with normal facial nerve function postoperatively. In summary, the translabyrinthine approach and the use of subperineural dissection are important strategies in the armamentarium for surgical management of large acoustic neuromas while preserving facial nerve function.The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/zld2cSP8fb8.


2009 ◽  
Vol 93 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isaac Yang ◽  
Michael E. Sughrue ◽  
Seunggu J. Han ◽  
Shanna Fang ◽  
Derick Aranda ◽  
...  

2006 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 176-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ho Jun SEOL ◽  
Choong-hyo KIM ◽  
Chul-Kee PARK ◽  
Chi Heon KIM ◽  
Dong Gyu KIM ◽  
...  

2006 ◽  
Vol 105 (6) ◽  
pp. 920-923 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madjid Samii ◽  
Andrei Koerbel ◽  
Sam Safavi-Abbasi ◽  
Federico Di Rocco ◽  
Amir Samii ◽  
...  

✓ Increasing rates of facial and cochlear nerve preservation after vestibular schwannoma surgery have been achieved in the last 30 years. However, the management of a partially or completely damaged facial nerve remains an important issue. In such a case, several immediate or delayed repair techniques have been used. On the basis of recent studies of successful end-to-side neurorrhaphy, the authors applied this technique in a patient with an anatomically preserved but partially injured facial nerve during vestibular schwannoma surgery. The authors interposed a sural nerve graft to reinforce the facial nerve whose partial anatomical continuity had been preserved. On follow-up examinations 18 months after surgery, satisfactory cosmetic results for facial nerve function were observed. The end-to-side interposed nerve graft appears to be a reasonable alternative in cases of partial facial nerve injury, and might be a future therapeutic option for other cranial nerve injuries.


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