Management of large dural defects in skull base surgery: an update

The use of a ventriculoatrial shunt for long-term CSF diversion for reconstruction after resection of large skull base tumors with intradural extension has been discontinued. The concern about placing a permanent foreign body in a wound open for 12 to 18 hours is our primary reason for changing the technique. Our present approach uses a rectus abdominis microvascular free flap over the fascial closure of the dural defect. Although our experience with this technique is limited, the advantages over the technique used previously warrant its continued use.