Prevention of Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage and Endocrinological Management after Transsphenoidal Surgery

Abstract

Endocrine deficiency can occur after the surgical treatment of parasellar lesions. In particular, management of the fluid-electrolyte balance is important, without which serious neurologic complications can occur. Delayed massive epistaxis can occur after transnasal surgery. Its thorough understanding is required for adequate treatment. The first part of this article focuses on the postoperative management and prevention of life-threatening complications. Postoperative spinal fluid leakage is the biggest concern in transnasal skull base surgery. To avoid it, various methods of skull-base reconstruction have been reported, the basic principle of which is a multilayered reconstruction. Each layer plays its own role, and understanding these roles enables a safe and effective reconstruction. In Japan, suture-based skull-base reconstruction is widely used, but suturing the dura in the deep surgical field is considered to be time-consuming and complicated. The second part of the article describes the various reported reconstruction methods, characteristics of the reconstruction materials, and some simple dural suture techniques.