Transnasal endoscopic closure of cerebrospinal fluid leaks.
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate an effective method for transnasal endoscopic closure of anterior skull base fistulas that does not involve lumbar drains or fat packing.


METHODS
Retrospective.


METHODS
We reviewed the charts of 36 patients who had 37 anterior skull base defects that were repaired endoscopically between 1993 and 2001.


RESULTS
Thirty-three defects were successfully closed on the first attempt. Three were successfully closed on the second attempt. One large defect was repaired by neurosurgery after a failed endoscopic attempt. Our results are similar to those of other published series.


CONCLUSIONS
Our method is effective and does not require adjuvant procedures or prolonged hospital stays.
Chin
Gregory Y
GY
Department of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA.
Rice
Dale H
DH
D002559:Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome