Skull Base Reconstruction: Management of Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks and Skull Base Defects

This text, edited by two fellowship-trained rhinologists and two fellowship-trained neurotologists, represents an up-to-date comprehensive resource for any clinician or scientist involved in skull base reconstruction. Each chapter is written by a “super specialist” who has a clinical and/or academic focus in skull base pathologies and reconstruction. The first section is dedicated to basic principles, anatomy, physiology, imaging and anesthetic considerations. The second and third sections discuss pathological processes that lead to cerebrospinal fluid leaks and the need for skull base reconstruction within the anterior and lateral skull base, respectively. The fourth and fifth sections focus on anterior and lateral skull base reconstruction, respectively, with attention to reconstruction techniques and strategies for managing each defect type. The sixth section comprehensively reviews postoperative care and management strategies, where there is high variability and limited evidence, and is intended to present multiple perspectives that each carry merit. The final section highlights developments, research and emerging ideas regarding this ever-growing topic. 

Previous to this, there had been no book dedicated to this highly important and emerging topic that really challenges even the best of surgeons to this day. The intended audience of Skull Base Reconstruction includes skull base surgeons, otolaryngologists, neurosurgeons, neurologists, ophthalmologists, radiologists, emergency medicine physicians, trauma surgeons, and trainees and students in all of those areas.

Edward C. Kuan, MD, MBA, Departments of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Neurological Surgery, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA 

Bobby A. Tajudeen, MD, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA 

Hamid R. Djalilian, MD, Departments of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Neurological Surgery, and Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA 

Harrison W. Lin, MD, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Neurological Surgery, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA