COMPLICATIONS OF CRANIOFACIAL RESECTION FOR TUMORS INVOLVING THE ANTERIOR SKULL BASE

Background. A consecutive series of 85 patients undergoing craniofacia l resection for malignant tumors involving the anterior cranial base b etween 1974 and 1992 was reviewed. Results. There were two (2%) postop erative deaths. Postoperative complications occurred in 33 (39%) patie nts. Local major complications occurred in 26 (31%) patients, local mi nor in 7 (8%), and systemic in 5 (6%). More than one complication occu rred in a number of patients. Bacterial contamination led to a signifi cant proportion of local, septic complications. Repair of the skull ba se defect with a pedicled pericranial flap was unsatisfactory and was associated with an increased incidence of local major complications. A local major complication was associated with a dramatic lengthening o f hospitalization. Conclusion. Future endeavors for prevention of comp lications should focus on antibiotic prophylaxis and reconstruction of the cranial base defect with better vascularized flaps. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.