Reconstruction of the vein of Labbé by using a short saphenous vein bypass graft. Technical note.

Protection of the vein of Labbé is a significant concern during surgery that involves retraction of the temporal lobe. A cranial base surgical approach, especially one via the presigmoid-petrosal route, carries considerable risk to this venous complex. A case is presented in which a large dominant vein of Labbé was injured during resection of a petroclival meningioma. This vein drained all the sylvian venous circulation as well as the lateral temporal surface; no connection to another venous system was noted. The vein was successfully reconstructed using a short saphenous vein bypass graft. Significant complications could have occurred without this reconstruction. The technique and benefits of this type of reconstruction are discussed.