Modified Nasoseptal Rescue Flap Technique for Pituitary Adenoma Resection via Endoscopic Endonasal Approach

Nasoseptal rescue flap (NSRF), which preserves the pedicle of the flap and is harvested as a nasoseptal flap (NSF) when intraoperative leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) occurs, is an alternative strategy for skull base reconstruction in patients with pituitary adenoma resection via an endoscopic endonasal approach. However, in practice, the original NSRF technique cannot meet the needs during operation. Therefore, the authors aimed to describe a modified NSRF technique for the resection of pituitary adenoma via endoscopic endonasal approach and to examine its utility and outcomes. The authors retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 87 consecutive patients with pituitary adenoma who underwent endoscopic endonasal surgery performed using NSRF technique from September 2019 to August 2020. Data on intraoperative CSF leakage, NSF conversion rate, and reconstruction-related complications were analyzed. The average age of patients was 50.1 years (men, 50.5%). Twenty-five cases of intraoperative CSF leakage were observed: 23 cases of low-flow CSF leakage and two cases of high-flow CSF leakage. NSRF was converted to NSF in 11 cases. Two patients experienced postoperative CSF leakage after reconstruction without NSF and required unplanned reoperation to rebuild the skull base with NSF. In conclusion, this modified NSRF utilized a minimally invasive way to provide sufficient surgical corridor without the need for pedicle retraction, and it can be effectively converted to an NSF for skull base reconstruction in patients with pituitary adenoma.