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Published on: July 5, 2021
Olfactory nerve sparing technique for anterior skull base meningiomas: how I do it
Paolo Ferroli1, Francesco Restelli2, Morgan Broggi1
1Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133, Milan, Italy.
Background:
Olfactory function preservation is a desirable objective in anterior skull base (ASB) surgery. The "infracerebral-supraolfactory nerve" corridor is presented.
Method:
The technique for preserving the olfactory nerves (OlfNs) in anterior ASB meningioma removal involves the following points: deep knowledge of the ASB vascular and meningeal anatomy, precise preoperative planning, wide and sharp dissection of the OlfNs away from the frontal lobes, gravity-aided frontal lobe retraction, Gelfoam-assisted hemostasis on nervous structures, and access to the lesion through an infracerebral-supraolfactory nerve corridor.
Conclusions:
This technique may be a valid option for patients affected by anterior skull base meningiomas with intact preoperative olfactory function.
