Endonasal endoscopic repair of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea in a series of 69 patients

Abstract

We presented our experiences in treatment of Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea with an endoscopic endonasal surgery approach, and showed the severe postoperative complications and failures we experienced, in order to outline some of the characteristic problems that can occur. We performed a retrospective analysis of all of the patients with CSF rhinorrhea. All of the patients were managed with an endonasal endoscopic procedure. Data collected included the site of leakage, the surgical interventions, and the postoperative complications. Sixty-nine patients (33 females and 36 males) were included in this study. All patients underwent an endoscopic repair approach with a multilayer reconstructive technique. The success rates of the first attempt in our study were 89%. Four patients presented with postoperative meningitis and brain abscess and one of these patients died of the brain abscess. Our results indicate that an endoscopic endonasal surgery approach provides a wide, safe, and direct route for treatment of CSF rhinorrhea. The precise location of leakage prior to surgery and proper patient selection, eliminating those with large leakages, are helpful in ensuring a successful endoscopic CSF repair with minimal mortality.

Key words:

• Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea
• endoscopic repair
• Complications
• mortality

Acknowledgments and conflict of interest

The author appreciates the help of M.D Junming Xiang. This paper is an original work and has not been submitted to other journals. All the authors have read and approved this manuscript. There is no conflict of interest in this manuscript. This material has never been published and is not currently under evaluation in any other peer-reviewed publication.