Endoscopic Suturing of Skull Base Dura and its Effectiveness in Preventing CSF Leak

Proper skull base repair is essential in preventing postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak following endonasal endoscopic skull base surgery. Direct suturing of the skull base dura is desirable but difficult. Here, we discuss the effectiveness of endoscopic suturing of skull base dura in cases of skull base lesions with intraoperative CSF leak. A total of 36 cases (three arachnoid cyst, two Rathke's cleft cyst, two tuberculum sella meningioma, and 29 pituitary adenoma) where dura was sutured endoscopically after endonasal endoscopic excision of lesion were evaluated. Endoscopic suturing was categorized in to three types (type 1 - dura with tumor excised and single suture placed across the anterior tuberculum sella dura to clival dura, type 2 - dura excised partially and repaired with multiple interrupted sutures, type 3 - dura was completely intact at the end of surgery and closed with interrupted suture). Type 1 dura closure was performed in eight cases, type 2 in 16 cases, and type 3 in 12 cases. Two patients with type 1 closure had CSF leak in the postoperative period and managed with lumbar puncture. None of the other patients had CSF leak after surgery. Direct suturing of the skull base dura is effective in preventing postoperative CSF leak. Even a single suture is able to hold the fat graft in place and provides sufficient support against pulsatile CSF flow and thereby reduces the incidence of postoperative CSF leak.