Published in 2020, this book, edited by professors of neurosurgery and otolaryngology, approaches the narrow field of paediatric endoscopic skull base surgery with a wealth of knowledge and expertise that the authors have achieved practising in adult and paediatric joint neurosurgery and otolaryngology approaches to the skull base. I enjoyed reading this book as it has a good context of anatomy, images, instruments and surgical steps.
The book has three parts: in part one, the authors focus on embryology of the sinuses, surgical anatomy and approaches to the skull base. The different surgical corridors to the skull base are clearly described and beautifully illustrated, as well as accompanied by surgical photographs. Examples of approaches of choice are given for different pathologies.
Very useful, also, is the description of the patient’s positioning and instrumentation. It’s important to note that one needs specially designed paediatric endoscopic sinus surgery instruments (or even use ontological instruments) for these small spaces!
In part two, the reader finds clear descriptions of clinical scenarios and step-by-step surgical techniques for excision, from arachnoid cysts to meningoencephaloceles, pituitary adenomata to chondrosarcoma, and juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma to subperiosteal abscess drainage (which are the most relevant to the otolaryngologists).
In part three, the authors describe the different techniques for skull base closure, postoperative pain management and complication management. This part is complementary to the videos in depicting the closure of skull base which can be used for any CSF leak repair.
The book is also available as an electronic version and gives access to five surgical videos, some better edited than others. Certainly, the drainage of subperiosteal abscess video is very useful for the otolaryngologists, but it’s disappointing that there is no video on juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma excision.
The cost of the book varies from £112 (Waterstones), £102 (Amazon) to £85 (Thieme). It is not too expensive for the work that has gone into it but it is not a book that every ENT surgeon needs to have. This book would be useful for neurosurgeons as well as rhinology/skull base surgery fellows.
