Complications of craniofacial resection for tumors involving the anterior skull base.
BACKGROUND
A consecutive series of 85 patients undergoing craniofacial resection for malignant tumors involving the anterior cranial base between 1974 and 1992 was reviewed.


RESULTS
There were two (2%) postoperative deaths. Postoperative complications occurred in 33 (39%) patients. Local major complications occurred in 26 (31%) patients, local minor in 7 (8%), and systemic in 5 (6%). More than one complication occurred in a number of patients. Bacterial contamination led to a significant proportion of local, septic complications. Repair of the skull base defect with a pedicled pericranial flap was unsatisfactory and was associated with an increased incidence of local major complications. A local major complication was associated with a dramatic lengthening of hospitalization.


CONCLUSIONS
Future endeavors for prevention of complications should focus on antibiotic prophylaxis and reconstruction of the cranial base defect with better vascularized flaps.
Kraus
D H
DH
Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10021.
Shah
J P
JP
Arbit
E
E
Galicich
J H
JH
Strong
E W
EW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012888:Skull Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D015996:Survival Rate