Surgery of Large and Giant Residual/Recurrent Vestibular Schwannomas


Patient

Age

No. of previous surgeries

Size 1st op (cm)

Tu. types

Grade resection last surgery (%)

Radiation therapy after previous surgery(ies)

Size before definitive surgery (cm)

Time between last surgery and definitive surgery (years)

1

23

1

4.0

Solid

40

No

4.5

3

2

27

2

4.0

Cystic

30

No

5.0

2

3

58

1

4.0

Solid

40

No

3.5

5

4

21

1

4.5

Solid

30

No

4.5

1 ½

5

29

3

5.0

Cystic

60

No

5.0

3

6

52

2

4.5

Solid

40

No

4.0

4

7

38

1

4.0

Solid

30

No

4.0

3

8

42

3

4.0

Solid

40

No

4.5

2 ½

9

47

1

4.0

Solid

40

No

4.0

2

10

40

2

4.5

Solid

30

CSR

4.5

2

11

35

2

5.0

Solid

50

No

5.0

4

12

47

2

4.0

Cystic

50

GKS

5.0

3 ½

13

28

2

4.5

Cystic

30

No

4.5

1 ½

14

39

2

4.0

Solid

50

No

4.5

4

15

42

1

3.5

Solid

30

GKS

4.0

2 ½

16

30

1

3.5

Solid

40

No

4.0

3

17

60

1

4.0

Solid

50

No

4.0

4

18

30

1

4.0

Solid

40

No

4.5

3

19

21

2

4.0

Solid

30

No

4.5

2

20

51

1

3.5

Solid

50

No

4.0

5


GKS gamma knife surgery, CSR conformational stereotactic radiotherapy



A141673_2_En_25_Fig1_HTML.jpg


Fig. 25.1
Upper: (a–b) Patient and surgeon position. Lower: Skin incision (c–d) and (e) asterion (arrow)




25.3 Results and Surgical Complications


Surgery was indicated to decompress the brainstem and save patient’s life. The aim of surgery was also to remove completely these large and giant residual/recurrent tumors and cure the patient. Radical removal was possible in all cases (Table 25.2). The surgical procedure was much more difficult than in nonoperated cases. From the beginning of surgery, fibrosis caused by the previous procedure(s) difficult dissection of the dura mater and identification of the sigmoid sinus. Careful dissection was necessary in order to not injure the sigmoid sinus. After dura opening there, no clear arachnoid plane could be found. The cases submitted to radiotherapy presented even more adherences. Dissection and preservation of cranial nerves, vessels, and brainstem was the main task of surgery. Monitoring of facial and caudal cranial nerves helped to preserve these structures. When the IAC had not been opened by the previous surgery, identification and dissection of the facial nerve and removal of the intracanalicular portion of the VS within the IAC was less difficult. Postoperative anatomical preservation of the facial nerve was possible in eight of nine patients with preoperative facial nerve function. Reconstruction of facial nerve through hypoglossal-facial anastomosis was performed 2 or 3 weeks after surgery in seven of the remaining eight cases. House and Brackmann facial palsy grades III–IV were obtained in these patients.


Table 25.2
Patients with large and giant residual/recurrent VSs













































































































Patient

VII CN preopa

Other preop neurol. deficits

VII CN post-opa

Hydrocephalus

Grade of removal

Follow-up

Complications

1

II

Ataxia

IV

Yes

Total

12 years

No

2

VI

Ataxia, V CN, dysphasia

VI

Yes

Total

10 years

CSF leak/meningitis

3

I

No

III

No

Total

9 years

CSF leak

4

IV

Ataxia

VI

No

Total

10 years

No

5

VI

Ataxia, VCN, dysphasia

VI

Yes

Total

9 years

Facial numbness

6

VI

Ataxia, V CN

VI

Yes

Total

10 years

No

7

I

No

I

Yes

Total

8 years

No

8

VI

Ataxia

VI

Yes

Total

6 years

IX, X (transient)

9

III

No

IV

No

Total

5 years

No

10

VI

Ataxia, V CN, dysphasia Tracheotomy, gastrostomy

VI

Yes

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Dec 16, 2016 | Posted by in NEUROLOGY | Comments Off on Surgery of Large and Giant Residual/Recurrent Vestibular Schwannomas

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