Delayed nasoseptal flaps for endoscopic skull base reconstruction: proof of concept and evaluation of outcomes.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To assess delayed nasoseptal flaps as a viable reconstructive option for sellar defects, evaluate postoperative vascularity of delayed nasoseptal flaps, and compare cerebrospinal fluid leak and surgery-specific complication rates of primary to delayed nasoseptal flaps.

STUDY DESIGN:

Case series with chart review.

SETTING:

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS:

All patients undergoing transsellar approaches for skull base tumors from 2009 to 2013 were evaluated. In cases where the necessity of a vascularized reconstructive flap was made evident only after tumor resection, the nasoseptal flap was raised after tumor resection and/or cerebrospinal fluid leak development, thus constituting a delayed nasoseptal flap. Outcome measures include postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, cerebrospinal leak rates, and complication rates.

RESULTS:

During this timeframe, 437 patients underwent transsellar approaches. Primary nasoseptal flaps were used to reconstruct 179 patients while 32 patients had delayed flaps. All available postoperative MRI scans of delayed nasoseptal flap patients maintained vascularity on examination of T1 postcontrast images. There was no significant difference in cerebrospinal fluid leak rate between primary (3.4%) and delayed flaps (3.1%) (P = .95). There was no significant difference in surgery-specific complication rates between primary flaps (10.6%) and delayed flaps (3.1%; P = .14). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated no significant effect of flap type, age, or sex on cerebrospinal fluid leak rates.

CONCLUSION:

Delayed nasoseptal flaps are a viable reconstructive option for sellar skull base defects. They maintain vascularity as evidenced on postoperative MRI and are comparable to primary nasoseptal flaps with regard to cerebrospinal fluid leak rates and complication rates.

• Authors: Garret W Choby, Jose L Mattos, Marion A Hughes, Juan C Fernandez-Miranda, Paul A Gardner, Carl H Snyderman, Eric W Wang
• Journal: Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg) Vol. 152 Issue 2 Pg. 255-9 (Feb 2015) ISSN: 1097-6817 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 25475502 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation 2014.

Chemical References

• Contrast Media

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Contrast Media
• Endoscopy (methods)
• Female
• Humans
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Nasal Septum (blood supply, transplantation)
• Postoperative Complications
• Plastic Surgery Procedures (methods)
• Skull Base Neoplasms (surgery)
• Surgical Flaps (blood supply)
• Treatment Outcome