Article
CSF leaks – a single-centre case series presenting treatment methods
Liquorverlust: eine monozentrische Fallserie zu therapeutischen Methoden
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Authors
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Pavlos Christoglou
- General Hospiatl of Thessaloniki G.Papanikolaou, Department of Neurosurgery, Thessaloniki, Griechenland
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Evropi Amanatidou
- General Hospiatl of Thessaloniki G.Papanikolaou, Department of Neurosurgery, Thessaloniki, Griechenland
| Published: | May 25, 2022 |
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Outline
Text
Objective: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks are a rare event. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea is a condition where the fluid (CSF) that surrounds the brain leaks into the nose and sinuses. Head trauma, surgery, or non traumatic conditions can produce it (such as infections, inflammatory diseases or high intracranial pressure ).
Meningitis is the most significant risk associated with cranial CSF leaks.
Treatment depends on the size of the leak. Although conservative treatment is used for smaller leaks sometimes it is not enough and the leak persists. Endoscope assisted skull base reconstruction is one surgical method widely used to repair bony defects . Another less used approach is lumboperitoneal drainage , which was used in our clinic .
Methods: This is a presentation of 15 cases from our hospital of the past 5 years with CSF rhinorrhea and the methods undertaken to diagnose and treat these patients, as well as their outcomes and long term follow up.
Results: Thirteen of our patients had successful treatment with lumbar drainage and conservarive treatment. Two of these patients were treated with lumboperitoneal drainage.
Conclusion: Treatment with lumbar drainage is a safe method of initial treatment. Lumboperitoneal shunt for the two patients that didn't improve after conservative treatment was a safe method with good long term outcome.
