Abstract
Background Guidelines for patient behavior following transsphenoidal surgery do not exist. To
gain generally recommendations, the German pituitary working group conducted a study
among pituitary surgeons to elucidate their opinions and customs of patients’ counselling.
Methods Questions concerning daily activities, exertion of sports and work life were addressed.
It was asked to provide the postoperative time interval after which specific activities
can be resumed both after a routine or an extended approach.
Results Fourteen pituitary surgeons returned the completed questionnaire. Following routine
operations, washing the hair was allowed within one week, blowing the nose after 3,
flying on an airplane and driving a car after one, lifting heavy weights after 4,
playing wind instruments after 6, use of CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure)
device after 3, permit leisure sports after 2 to 4 weeks (except for scuba diving).
Competitive sports can be resumed after 6 weeks. Occupation with mental demands was
considered feasible after 2 weeks, with physical labor after 4 weeks. After extended
transsphenoidal surgery, the recommended time interval was roughly twice as long compared
to the routine approach. Driving a car was allowed within the first 4 weeks after
surgery by some pituitary surgeons, while others allow driving only after 3 months
analogous to the regulations after craniotomy. The risk of scuba diving was considered
high.
Conclusions The data of our study and the literature, and expert opinions from related scientific
fields resulted in a consensus on recommendations for patients’ conduct to minimize
risks after transsphenoidal surgery.
Key words
pituitary tumor - transsphenoidal surgery - postoperative recommendations