Endoscopic approaches and techniques to the anterior skull base, sellar, and parasellar regions have contributed significantly to the field of skull base surgery, facilitating the resection of complex skull base lesions with a minimal surgical footprint. The most clinically significant complication with these approaches has been the incidence of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. 1 Once the initial feasibility and efficacy were established, demonstrating improved neurological outcomes, reconstruction, CSF leaks became the primary challenge. The expanded endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) followed the same progression as open skull base surgery such that reconstruction from grafts to vascularized flaps allowed a concomitant reduction in CSF leak rates, which are now in the range of 1 to 5%. [2][3][4] The EEAs have been organized into the following corridors along the coronal and sagittal planes, which span the entire ventral anterior, middle, and posterior cranial fossa, providing access via a series of modular approaches; specifically, the transfrontal, transcribriform, transplanum-transtuberculum, transsellar, transclival, transodontoid, and respective coronal modules. 5 The reconstruction is primarily dependent on the anatomic region and module undertaken relative to the availability of local and regional vascularized pedicled flaps. Several attempts at categorizing reconstruction options have been described, the most notable is by Patel et al. 6 There exists significant literature on the use of grafts, and as stated, as the EEA approaches evolved, so has the reconstruction from grafts to flaps. To avoid reiteration, in this article, we outline a pragmatic algorithmic approach focused exclusively on vascularized flap reconstruction; explicitly, we share with the readers our specific reconstruction algorithm that we have been using over the past decade to
AbstractThe success of expanded endoscopic endonasal approaches (EEAs) to the anterior skull base, sellar, and parasellar regions has been greatly aided by the advancement in reconstructive techniques. In particular, the pedicled vascularized flaps have been developed and effectively cover skull base defects of varying sizes with a significant reduction in postoperative CSF leaks. There are two aims to this review: (1) We will provide our current, simplified reconstruction algorithm. (2) We will describe, in detail, the relevant anatomy, indications/contraindications, and surgical technique, with a particular emphasis on the nasoseptal flap (NSF). The inferior turbinate flap (ITF), middle turbinate flap (MTF), pericranial flap (PCF), and temporoparietal fascial flap (TPFF) will also be described. The NSF should be the primary option for reconstruction of majority of skull base defects following endonasal endoscopic surgery. In general, for the planum, cribriform, and upper two-thirds of the clivus, the NSF is ideal. For the lower-third of the clivus, the NSF may not be adequate and may require additional reconstructive options. Although limited in...