Skull Base Endoscopic-Assisted Surgery

Abstract

Endoscopic-assisted surgery is becoming a more and more important tool in the neurosurgical armamentarium. This chapter provides a broad overview of the role of this technique in various skull base procedures. It starts with a historical perspective followed by a thorough exploration of the various principles and techniques for different indications. Additionally, the topics of "minimally invasive" techniques using "key hole" approaches are explained. At the end of this chapter, advantages and pitfalls with endoscopic assisted techniques are discussed.