Supplementary Material for: Endoscopic Microvascular Decompression: A Stepwise Operative Technique

<b><i>Background/Aims:</i></b> Microvascular decompression (MVD) of the trigeminal nerve is a widely accepted treatment for patients with trigeminal neuralgia caused by vascular compression. The neuroendoscope is rapidly becoming a complementary tool in minimally invasive neurosurgery of the ventral anterior skull base. Its adoption in the lateral approach to the posterior fossa has been slower and has been used primarily as an adjunct to conventional microscopic surgical techniques, e.g. endoscope-assisted microsurgery. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> In this paper, we describe a stepwise, technical commentary on a purely endoscopic MVD of the trigeminal nerve via the retrosigmoid route. <b><i>Results:</i></b> From our experience, the endoscope provides excellent visualization of the neurovascular relationship. By allowing full visualization of the trigeminal nerve, endoscopy may likely lead to an increase in the number of successful MVDs and a decrease in the number of complications. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> We believe endoscopic MVD is a safe and effective method of accessing the trigeminal nerve in the cerebellopontine angle and of performing MVD. This endoscopic technique can be implemented in other neurosurgical and neuro-otological procedures such as resection of cerebellopontine angle masses.**背景与研究目的**：微血管减压术（Microvascular decompression, MVD）是治疗由血管压迫引发的三叉神经痛的临床广为认可的治疗手段。神经内镜正快速成为前颅底腹侧微创神经外科领域的辅助工具，但其在颅后窝外侧入路中的应用进展相对迟缓，目前主要作为常规显微外科技术的辅助补充手段，例如内镜辅助显微手术。 **研究方法**：本文针对经乙状窦后入路的纯内镜三叉神经微血管减压术，逐步阐述其技术要点。 **研究结果**：基于我们的临床经验，神经内镜可清晰呈现神经与血管的毗邻关系。通过完整显露三叉神经，内镜技术或可提升三叉神经微血管减压术的成功率，并降低并发症发生率。 **研究结论**：我们认为，内镜下三叉神经微血管减压术是一种安全且有效的桥小脑角区三叉神经显露及微血管减压术式。该内镜技术还可推广应用于其他神经外科及神经耳科手术，例如桥小脑角区肿块切除术。