In the last 2 decades, endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery has become the most popular choice of neurosurgeons and otolaryngologists to treat lesions of the skull base, with minimal invasiveness, lower incidence of complications, and lower morbidity and mortality rates compared with traditional approaches. The transsphenoidal route is the surgical approach of choice for most sellar tumors because of the relationship of the sphenoid bone to the nasal cavity below and the pituitary gland above. More recently, extended approaches have expanded the indications for transsphenoidal surgery by using different corridors leading to specific target areas, from the crista galli to the spinomedullary junction. Computer-assisted surgery is an evolving technology that allows real-time anatomic navigation during endoscopic surgery by linking preoperative triplanar radiologic images and intraoperative endoscopic views, thus helping the surgeon avoid damage to vital structures. Preoperative computed tomography is the preferred modality to show bone landmarks and vascular structures. Radiologists play an important role in surgical planning by reporting extension of sphenoid pneumatization, recesses and septations of the sinus, and other relevant anatomic variants. Radiologists should understand the relationships of the sphenoid bone and skull base structures, anatomic variants, and image-guided neuronavigation techniques to prevent surgical complications and allow effective treatment of skull base lesions with the endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach.
SummaryA case of a perforating brain injury caused by a speargun in a suicide attempt is described. Although this kind of injuries has been previously reported, the present case is specially interesting because the patient showed no neurological deficit after surgery. Some advices about the medical and surgical management are proposed based on this case and our literature review. The use of antibiotics and antiepileptic drugs and the anterograde extraction of the harpoon aided by the performance of a craniotomy surrounding the exit point are recommended.KEY WORDS. Speargun. Perforating injury. Cranial trauma.Traumatismo craneal perforante por arpón de pesca. A propósito de un caso Resumen Describimos un caso de traumatismo craneo-encefá-lico perforante causado por un arpón de pesca submarina tras intento de autolisis. Aunque traumatismos parecidos han sido publicados previamente, el presente caso es especialmente interesante dada la escasa repercusión neurológica que el paciente presentó tras la cirugia. Basándonos en esta experiencia y en nuestra revisión bibliográfica proponemos algunos consejos que pueden ser de utilidad en el manejo médico y quirúrgico. El uso de antibióticos y antiepilépticos así como la extracción anterógrada del arpón con la ayuda de una craneotomía rodeando su punto de salida son algunas de estas recomendaciones.PALABRAS CLAVE. Arpón. Traumatismo perforante. Traumatismo craneal.
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