Mucocele Rate after Endoscopic Skull Base Reconstruction Using Vascularized Pedicled Flaps

Abstract

The pedicled nasoseptal flap is an effective means of reconstruction after endoscopic skull base surgery. Avoidance of extensive stripping of the surrounding mucosa does not result in a significant rate of postoperative mucocele formation in the short term. Long-term follow-up is still indicated.

Sinonasal morbidity following endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery

“…Five studies [12][13][14][15][16] specifically addressed mucocele formation following endoscopic skull base reconstruction surgery as shown in Table 3. The incidence of mucocele formation was 8% (11 of 143) among all age groups.…”

Managing Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea after Lateral Skull Base Surgery via Endoscopic Endonasal Eustachian Tube Closure

“…Bleier et al retrospectively examined rates of postoperative mucocele formation in 28 patients undergoing nasal septal flap reconstruction of the skull base. 12 Only 1 of 28 (3.6%) patients developed a mucocele at the site of reconstruction at a mean follow-up time of 243 days despite avoidance of mucosal stripping intraoperatively, demonstrating that the risk of mucocele formation is not significant in the short term. 12 In our experience, the major limitation of the procedure has been the lack of customized instrumentation designed for endoscopic use in the posterior lateral nasal cavity and nasopharynx.…”

Pedicled flaps in endoscopic skull base reconstruction

“…The rate of mucocele formation following NSF reconstruction appears to be low, with reported rates of 0-3.6% [17,18]. Nonetheless, long-term observational data are lacking in this regard, and caution should therefore be exercised to reduce the risk of this complication.…”