Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of low-temperature plasma-assisted transnasal middle skull base tumor resection. Methods A retrospective analysis of the medical records of 17 patients with anterior middle skull base tumors excised using intranasal low-temperature plasma was conducted. The advantages and disadvantages of this technique were summarized, and the postoperative complications and therapeutic effects were noted. Results The intraoperative blood loss in this group was 70-800 mL, and the median blood loss was 210 mL. The duration of surgery was 50-270 min, and the median duration of surgery was 145 min. The duration of hospital stay ranged from 10 to 35 days, with an average of 21 days. All the 17 cases of nasal sinus and skull base tumors were completely resected. No cranial nerve injury and related dysfunction and complications, such as cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea and intracranial infection, were observed after the surgery. The patients were followed up for 54.9±29.8 months; 3 died, 1 was lost to follow-up, and the rest had no tumor recurrence. Conclusion Low-temperature plasma-assisted transnasal middle skull base tumor resection can safely and effectively reduce intraoperative hemorrhage, the duration of surgery, and postoperative complications.

Key words: Skull base tumor, Nasal endoscope, Radiofrequency coblation, Surgery, complications