Endoscopic transnasal management of cerebrospinal fluid leaks of the sphenoid sinus
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Published on: January 17, 2018
Luca Muscatello1, Riccardo Lenzi, Iacopo Dallan
1Unit of Otorhinolaryngology (Head: Prof. S. Sellari-Franceschini), Department of Neuroscience, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Abstract:
The authors reviewed the medical records of patients who had undergone endoscopic management of sphenoid sinus (SS) cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks in our department between 2005 and 2007. Eight patients were included in this study: 4 males and 4 females. CSF fistulae were due to trauma, surgery, and some were idiopathic. In all the patients, a multilayer skull base closure was performed. No SS obliteration was carried out. One patient required revision surgery for persistent CSF leak. Multilayer skull base closure is confirmed as the preferred option in sphenoid CSF leaks. The limited morbidity and high success rate fit well with the data in the literature and make this treatment option advisable.
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Etiology
Possible causes of this condition include high blood pressure, trauma, low humidity, upper respiratory tract infections, allergies, foreign bodies, nasal inhalation of corticosteroids or illicit drugs, excessive use of decongestant nasal sprays, facial or nasal surgery, anatomic malformation, tumors, or systemic...