gms | German Medical Science

61st Annual Meeting of the German Society of Neurosurgery (DGNC) as part of the Neurowoche 2010
Joint Meeting with the Brazilian Society of Neurosurgery on the 20 September 2010

German Society of Neurosurgery (DGNC)

21 - 25 September 2010, Mannheim

The incidence of CSF leakages after implantation of Gliadel® Wafer for recurrent GBM

Meeting Abstract

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  • Juliane Schroeteler - Neurochirurgische Klinik der Heinrich Heine Universität Düsseldorf, Germany
  • Hans Jakob Steiger - Neurochirurgische Klinik der Heinrich Heine Universität Düsseldorf, Germany
  • Michael Sabel - Neurochirurgische Klinik der Heinrich Heine Universität Düsseldorf, Germany

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie. 61. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie (DGNC) im Rahmen der Neurowoche 2010. Mannheim, 21.-25.09.2010. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2010. DocV1633

doi: 10.3205/10dgnc106, urn:nbn:de:0183-10dgnc1060

Published: September 16, 2010

© 2010 Schroeteler et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.


Outline

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Objective: Cerebro Spinal Fluid (CSF) leakage is a feared complication associated with the implantation of Gliadel® wafers. Pre-treatment with radiochemotherapy, reoperation and subsequent adjuvant treatment concepts might increase the risk of CSF leakage. Since implantation of Gliadel® wafers is an efficient treatment option for recurrent Glioblastoma (GBM), the incidence of CSF leakages in a heavily pre-treated patient population is of interest.

Methods: We performed a search in our database for patients with recurrent primary GBM under/after radiochemotherapy (Stupp protocol), who were subject to re-resection, implantation of Gliadel® wafers and intensified temozolomide one week on/ one week off (150 mg/m2/BS), initiated 4 weeks after surgical treatment. The occurrence of CSF leakage was evaluated according to clinical notes.

Results: We identified 23 patients who met the inclusion criteria. In all patients a watertight dural closure was intended and if not achieved a dura patch (bovine collagen) or galeal periosteal patch was implanted. Median observation time was 6 months (95% CI, [5,76-10,59]). We identified 4 patients with a subgaleal CSF leakage at 1 week (n=3) and 2 months (n=1). 2 patients were treated with a VP-Shunt (1 patient with leakage at 1 week and 2 months, respectively). In 2 patients the leak resolved spontaneously.

Conclusions: Even in this supposedly high-risk population, the incidence of CSF leakages requiring treatment is acceptably low. The assumed risk of CSF leakage should not per se prevent patients with recurrent GBM from treatment with Gliadel® wafers.