The Use of Endoscopes During Surgery in the Suprasellar Region

Summary

During microneurosurgical procedures, especially at the skull base, lesions or parts of them may be hidden behind unretractable structures. Even the microinstruments themselves obscure the view at the involved structures, mainly because the operating microscope allows only a coaxial visual control.

Careful and judicious use of endoscopes extends the range of view and will lessen the need for extensive dissection and retraction, thus reducing the inevitable surgical trauma. For example, the use of endoscopes during surgery in the suprasellar region with its congeries of important neural and vascular structures will be described.