Advantages of endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary gland tumor surgery.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to hihglight the benefits and safety of the endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary gland tumor surgery. The endoscopic transsphenoidal approach to the Turkish sella minimizes traumatization of nasal cavity structures, allows direct access to the tumor and intra, para and suprasellar views (13). The surgical procedure was described. We monitored postoperative complication such aspostoperative bleeding, cerebrospinal fluid leak, infection in 136 patients who underwent endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary gland tumos resection. Bleeding from the bed after tumor removal occured in 3 patients (2.2 %). Bleeding from the nasal cavity requiring surgical intervention was in 1 patient (0.7 %). Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak was detected in 12 cases (8.8 %). Duroplasty with itratecal cerebrospinal fluid drainage led to the cessation of the cerebrospinal fluid leak in all cases. We recorded meningitis in 4 patients (2.9 %) Rhinosinusitis was not recorded. The endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery of pituitary gland tumors has become preferred becouse of its safety, low rate of complications and minimal trauma to the patient (Fig. 5, Ref. 13).