Transcranial endoscope-assisted skull base surgery – posterior fossa

Abstract

Endoscope-assisted microsurgery is a promising technique combining the advantages of the operating microscope with those of the endoscope. For lesions, which are visible in a straight line, the operating microscope, which provides a high resolution, excellent color fidelity, as well as stereoscopic vision, is the optimal visualization tool. For dissecting in deep and narrow surgical corridors and for working " around a corner " , high-definition endoscopes with various angles of view are used to reduce the amount of retraction and skull base drilling. The endoscope-assisted microsurgical technique enables a safe surgery in the posterior fossa even when lesions are not visible in a straight line. Although the endoscope-assisted microsurgical technique reduces definitely the invasiveness of the approach, it still remains open whether it improves the results compared to standard microsurgery.