Pituitary Surgery
The pituitary gland is a pea-sized structure located at the base of the brain. It functions by producing hormones that control or regulate various functions of the body such as growth, metabolism, sexual development and reproduction.
Pituitary adenomas are noncancerous tumours that form in the pituitary gland. These tumours cause hormonal imbalance in the body by either secreting excessive levels of a particular hormone or more than one type of hormone. They can also grow in size and compress important arteries and nerves at the base of the skull. Endoscopic transnasal transsphenoidal surgery is a minimally invasive procedure where the pituitary tumour is removed by working through the nose. This surgical technique can also be used to remove tumours located in other regions of the skull base.
Transnasal transsphenoidal surgery is a minimally invasive technique performed to remove pituitary adenomas by inserting an endoscope through the nose. An endoscope is a long tube with a camera attached at the end that sends images to a computer screen for the surgeon to view inside the body.
Indications
Endoscopic transnasal transsphenoidal surgery can be utilised to remove pituitary tumours which are compressing critical brain structures or are over secreting certain hormones.
Surgical procedure
The surgery is performed general anaesthesia.
You will lie on your back on the operating table and your nasal cavity will be prepared with antibiotic and antiseptic solution.
An image-guided device is placed on your head which creates a 3D map on a computer screen. This map assists your surgeon in navigating through the nose.
A thin endoscopic tube attached to a lighted device and a video camera at its end is inserted through one nostril and moved up to the back of the nasal cavity. A small portion of the nasal septum separating the two nostrils and the wall of the sphenoid sinus is opened.
The surgeon then makes an opening in a thin bone overlying the pituitary gland called the sella, to view the dura (the covering of the brain). The dura is then opened to view the tumour and pituitary gland.
Your surgeon uses special instruments called curettes through the other nostril to remove the tumour.
At the conclusion of the procedure your surgeon will usually take a fat graft from your abdomen which is used to repair the opening into the skull base and to prevent any CSF fluid leakage. Sometimes bone graft may be used to close the opening made in the skull base.
Your surgeon will apply biologic glue over the graft to promote healing and prevent leakage of cerebrospinal fluid into the nasal cavity.
Post-Operative Care
After the surgery, medications are prescribed to control nausea, pain and nasal congestion. Your doctor will check to see if the pituitary gland is functioning normally. Hormonal medications may be prescribed if the pituitary gland fails to produce the required level of hormones.
Avoid coughing, sneezing, blowing your nose, and straining during bowel movements for a few weeks after surgery. Resume normal activities gradually.
If a fat graft has been obtained from the abdomen, keep the wound open to air and prevent contact with water. Consult your doctor immediately if you experience continuous nasal drainage, excessive swallowing, nasal bleeding, high fever, frequent urination or weight loss.
Recovery
Crusts can form in your nose, causing nasal congestion. These can be removed safely by spraying local anaesthetic in the nasal cavity. Nasal saline rinses may be recommended to remove the crusts and promote healing of the wounds.
Risks and complications
As with any surgery, endoscopic transnasal transsphenoidal resection of pituitary adenoma can be associated with certain risks and complications, which include:
Loss of vision due to damaged optic nerves
- Pituitary gland damage
- Diabetes insipidus
- Nasal deformity and bleeding
- Stroke
- Cerebrospinal fluid leak and meningitis (tissue layers covering the brain)
Benefits
The resection of the pituitary adenoma through endoscopic transnasal transsphenoidal surgery has several benefits over open surgery, which include
- No external incisions and no visible scars
- Minimal loss of blood
- Removes large tumours
- Faster healing and recovery time.
- Shorter hospital stays
