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Objective: To determine in-hospital costs associated with performing an EEA to anterior skull base pathology and to identify drivers of cost variability for patients undergoing endoscopic anterior skull base surgery. Methods: All endoscopic anterior skull base surgeries performed over a period from January 1st, 2015 to October 24th, 2017 were evaluated. The electronic medical record was reviewed for patient factors, tumor characteristics, and cost variables associated with each hospital stay and univariate analysis was performed using Stata software. Results: An EEA was associated with an average total in-hospital cost of $44 545. Compared to patients undergoing a transsphenoidal approach to pituitary tumor resection, EEA patients incurred higher in-hospital costs across all variables including a total cost increase of $15 921 (95% confidence interval $5720-26 122, P =.002). Univariate analysis of all endoscopic anterior skull base surgery patients showed a cost increase of $30 616 associated with post-operative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak ($10 420-50 811, P =.004), $14 610 with post-operative diabetes insipidus (DI) ($4610-24 609, P =.004), and $11 522 with African-American patients relative to Caucasian patients ($3049-19 995, P =.008). Conclusions: Patients who undergo endoscopic EEA for resection of anterior skull base tumors typically incur greater in-hospital costs than patients undergoing a standard TSA. Post-operative complications such as CSF leak and DI, as well as ethnicity, are significant drivers of cost-variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Tuberculum sellae meningiomas (TSMs) are challenging tumors for surgical resection. Endoscopic endonasal (EE) approaches to these lesions have not been directly compared to open craniotomy in a controlled trial. Methods: We searched Medline and Embase online databases for English-language articles containing key words related to TSMs. Data were pooled, including 5 of our own patients reported here for the first time. Metaregression was used and a decision-analytical model was constructed to compare outcomes between open microsurgery and EE approaches. Results: The overall quality of life (QOL) was not significantly different between the approaches (p = 0.410); however, there were large differences in individual complication rates. The Monte Carlo simulation yielded an overall average QOL in craniotomy patients of 0.915 and in endoscopic patients of 0.952. Endoscopy had a higher CSF leak rate (26.8 vs. 3.5%, p < 0.001) but a lower rate of injury to the optic apparatus (1.4 vs. 9.2%, p < 0.001) compared with craniotomy. The 3-year recurrence rates were not statistically different (p = 0.529). Conclusion: EE resection of TSMs appears to be a comparable alternative to traditional open microsurgical resection with respect to overall QOL based on available publications. A meaningful comparison of recurrence rates will require a longer follow-up. Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Over the past 10 years, the management of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) has been redefined because of the improvement of transnasal skull base techniques. However, the limits of endoscopic resection still have to be fully defined. The purpose of this study was to report on a series of patients presenting with JNA in an effort to further define an optimal treatment algorithm and improve outcomes. Methods: A retrospective review was performed of 18 patients presenting to a tertiary care institution with JNA from 1999 to 2007. Patients were categorized by Andrews stage and data were collected on presentation, operative technique, and postoperative course. Results: All patients underwent preoperative embolization. Stages 1, 2, and one 3a lesions were approached endoscopically while the remainder underwent open resection. In the endoscopic group the intraoperative blood loss was almost half that of the open group (506 versus 934 mL) and the average hospital stay was 1 day less (3 vs. 4 days). Conclusion: Endoscopic resection is reasonable for Andrews stage 1, 2, and select 3a lesions and may allow for less bleeding and a shorter hospital stay. This study supports the current trend of expansion of indications for endoscopic JNA resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]