Cerebral Revascularization for Skull Base Tumors

Abstract

he French physician Alexis Carrel opened the field of revascularization when he published the first end-to-end T anastomosis in 1902. Ten years later, he received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine “in recognition of his work on vascular suture and the transplantation of blood vessels and organs” (2). Since then vascular procedures for augmentation or replacement of blood flow to certain organs have been gradually refined to the benefit of selected groups of patients, for example, bypass for cardiac ischemia. The development of cerebral revascularization (for review, see [4]) has, however, followed a more troubled path and criteria for if, how and when to offer such treatment to the patients have not been agreed upon.