Surgical Complications of Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-Sphenoidal Approach for Pituitary Tumors

Abstract

Background: Pituitary macro-adenomas form about 10% of intracranial tumors. Most of them are non-functioning and manifestations are due to space-occupying effects or clinical hypo-pituitarism. Functioning adenomas result in the conditions of Cushing’s disease, galactorrhoea/oligo/amenorrhoea and acromegaly. Non-functioning pituitary tumors may also produce hyper-prolactinaemia due to dis-inhibition of the effects of hypothalamic dopamine on lactotroph cells. Aim of the work: Detection of surgical complications of endoscopic endo-nasal trans-sphenoidal surgery for pituitary tumors and how to avoid and manage them. Material and Methods: This study is conducted upon 40 cases diagnosed to have pituitary tumors, operated upon in department of Neurosurgery at Al-Azhar University Hospitals, and Shibin Al.Kawm teaching hospital from March 2017 to March 2019. prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed. Results: 11 patients suffered complications, as CSF leak, intra-operative bleeding, and herniation of diaphragm sellae. Conclusions: Endoscopic Trans-sphenoidal approach usually is the method of choice for treating pituitary tumors due to lower risk of complications.