Surgical complications of endoscopic approach to skull base: analysis of 584 consecutive patients.
Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2022;
279:3189-3199. [PMID:
35102476 DOI:
10.1007/s00405-022-07256-3]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE
Endoscopic techniques have been widely applied for challenging cranial base surgeries in recent years. In this study, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of using the endoscopic endo-nasal route for various skull base pathologies in terms of postoperative complications.
METHODS
A total of 584 consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic skull base surgery were studied. Peri- and post-operative complications and risk factors affecting the occurrence of these complications were evaluated.
RESULTS
648 endoscopic skull base surgical procedures were performed on 584 patients (47.8% females and 52.2% males) with the mean age of 41.2 years. Pituitary adenoma (69.3%) was the most common pathology. Post-operative mortality was 2.0%. The rates of post-operative permanent neurological deficit (one case of 6th nerve injury, two 12th nerve injuries and one hemiparesis) and visual deterioration were 0.6% and 1.5%, respectively. Ten patients (1.7%) were complicated with meningitis and it was the cause of death in 3. Systemic complications not directly attributable to skull base surgical access occurred in 2% (11 patients) with 5 mortalities. The rate of intra-operative vascular injury was 1% and among them one patient died due to PCA injury. The most common post-operative complications were diabetes insipidus (12.5%), anterior pituitary dysfunction (10.6%) and CSF leak (3.6%), respectively. In general, reoperation, malignant lesions, and level IV of surgical complexity were associated with a higher incidence of complications.
CONCLUSION
Endoscopic endo-nasal approach can be a safe and less-morbid first-line treatment of patients with various skull base lesions.
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