Annals of anatomy = Anatomischer Anzeiger : official organ of the Anatomische Gesellschaft
-
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of posterior septectomy size on surgical exposure and surgical freedom during the endoscopic transsphenoidal approach to the sellar and parasellar region. ⋯ The surgical exposure increased significantly with progressively larger posterior septectomy in binostril approaches until a 20-mm posterior septectomy. Bilateral lateral opticocarotid recesses were accessible with a mean of 15mm for posterior septectomy. In the mononostril group no dorsal septectomy was necessary. Thus, the nasal mucosa is more preserved by this technique. However, the lateral exposure is partially limited and the use of angled endoscopes is recommended when adopting a mononostril approach to the sellar region.