[Current status of treatment of parasellar meningiomas]

For 302 patients presenting the respective indication in the years 1968 to 1972 the operation lethality amounted to 24.8%. Then the microtechnique including the operation microscope were introduced. Out of 47 cases of tuberculum sellae meningiomas one patient died; out of 42 patients suffering from median meningiomas of the wing of the sphenoid bone nine died. Lethality decreased by one half, radical surgery increased from 50 to 80 to 85%. A contraindication for surgery was not considered to be present even with a bad general condition. Post-operative control: cerebrospinal pressure, intracerebral pressure, pressure of the interstitial fluid, local and regional blood supply, pO2 and pCO2, electrolyte balance, pH, osmolality. This allowed also to record conditions of underpressure.