Endoscopic management of CSF rhinorrhea

Transnasal endoscopic repair has become the treatment of choice for most anterior cranial and all sphenoid sinus breaches. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the results of endoscopic management of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea in a tertiary care center in South India.

A retrospective analysis of 40 consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic repair of CSF rhinorrhea between 2010 and 2013 was performed. Endoscopic procedure consisted of defining the defect and removal of mucosa for 3-4 mm surrounding it. Repair was done using septal cartilage (for defects involving sphenoid sinus where sinus was packed with fat), fascia lata, oxidized cellulose, and fibrin sealant. Lumbar drain was placed for 2-4 days in selected cases. A lumbar-peritoneal shunt was inserted in patients with spontaneous CSF rhinorrhea and high opening lumbar CSF pressure.

Spontaneous CSF leaks were more common in middle-aged females, whereas posttraumatic CSF leaks were common in young adult males. The success rates following first surgery for patients with posttraumatic, spontaneous, and postprocedural CSF leaks were 85.7, 81.8, and 75%, respectively, which improved to 95.7, 100, and 100% following second procedure, respectively. Technical failures, poor graft uptake because of radiation therapy, location of leak in the lateral sphenoid recess, lumbar peritoneal shunt malfunction, and poor healing of skull base fractures were responsible for recurrence of leak.

Team work between neurosurgeons and otorhinolaryngologists with attention to identification of site of leak, preparation of graft bed, securing the graft in place, and postoperative care is critical to achieve a high level of success for endoscopic repair of CSF rhinorrhea.