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Minim Invasive Neurosurg 2004; 47(3): 145-150
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-818489
Original Article
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Hemorrhagic Vascular Complications of Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Surgery

L.  M.  Cavallo1 , F.  Briganti2 , P.  Cappabianca1 , F.  Maiuri1 , V.  Valente3 , F.  Tortora2 , A.  Volpe2 , A.  Messina1 , A.  Elefante2 , E.  de Divitiis1
  • 1Unit of Neurosurgery, Department of Neurological Sciences, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy
  • 2Unit of Neuroradiology, Department of Neurological Sciences, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples
  • 3Department of Neurosurgery, Ospedale Civile dell’Annunziata, Cosenza, Italy
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
02 September 2004 (online)

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Abstract

Two hundred and fifty consecutive patients operated on by an endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach were retrospectively analyzed in order to evaluate hemorrhagic vascular complications occurring during or after the surgical procedure and their appropriate management. Vascular complications of endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery are identical to those of a microsurgical transsphenoidal approach. Damage to the sphenopalatine artery and to the internal carotid artery (ICA), which are the most frequent vascular troubles, may require technical tricks because of some aspects connected to the approach itself and of the physical properties of the endoscope. Furthermore, the progress in interventional neuroradiology in the last decades offers new solutions in respect to the past, where the use of the surgical microscope was already a tremendous progress. The anatomic substrate of each complication is discussed, along with the peculiar surgical details related to it.

Key words

Complications - transsphenoidal surgery - vascular complications - endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery - pituitary surgery - endoscopy

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Paolo Cappabianca, M. D. 

Unit of Neurosurgery · Department of Neurological Sciences · Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II

Via S. Pansini 5

80131 Naples

Italy

Phone: +39-81-7462583/7462582 ·

Fax: +39-81-5987821/7462497

Email: cappabia@unina.it

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