Managing the patient with transsphenoidal pituitary tumor resection.

Patients who undergo transsphenoidal pituitary tumor resection require a multidisciplinary team approach, consisting of a neurosurgeon, an endocrinologist, and nurses. Successful transsphenoidal surgery needs expert nursing care for early identification and prompt treatment of pituitary dysfunction and neurosurgical complications. Pituitary dysfunction includes adrenal insufficiency, diabetes insipidus, syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone, and cerebral salt wasting syndrome. Neurosurgical complications may include visual disturbance, cerebrospinal fluid leak, subdural hematoma, and epistaxis.