Complications of transsphenoidal pituitary surgery.

Two hundred and sixty four transsphenoidal procedure for excision for pituitary adenomas were performed in the Christian Medical College Hospital at Vellore between 1983 and 1994. These were reviewed to evaluate the complications and their management. There were four operative deaths (1.5). Major morbidity included cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhoea, meningitis, diabetes insipidus, visual deterioration and Addisonian crisis. Intraopertive CSF leak had a high association with postoperative diabetes insipidus.