Vascular Complications of Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Approach to Sellar Base Lesions

Abstract

Objective: Vascular complications are one of the most dangerous complications of endoscopic skull base surgeries. The aim of this study was to evaluate vascular complications of endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery in patients with sellar and parasellar lesions. Methods: Between August 1997 and July 2023, a total of 5300 patients underwent endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for skull base lesions at Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery and Pituitary Research Center. Patients with vascular complications during and after surgery were included into the study. Results: We encountered 12 major vascular injuries, 116 epistaxis, and 50 operation site hematoma in our series. Conclusion: Major vascular injuries are the most life-threatening complicastions. They can cause high mortality. The ways to prevent these injuries seems to have high experience and to investigate preoperative vascular evaluation in detail.