Vascularized Nasal Septal Flaps for Reconstruction of Central Skull Base Defects

Abstract

Surgical resection of central skull base tumors presents the challenge of reconstructing the critical barriers that separate the brain and the carotid and basilar arteries from the contaminated spaces of the nose and sinuses. When reconstruction is insufficient, disastrous outcomes may include CSF leakage, meningitis, and carotid or basilar artery rupture.