[CSF fistulae following surgery for cerebellopontine angle tumours and their relationship with the body mass index].
BACKGROUND
The most frequent complication after vestibular schwannoma surgery is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistula.


METHODS
Retrospective study of 170 patients who had vestibular schwannoma (163) or other tumours in the cerebello pontine angle (CPA) (7). Resection was carried out using different approaches: retrosigmoid (66%), translabyrinthine (24%), middle cranial fossa (5%) and others (5%). We studied the day of onset, location and treatment of the CSF leaks, and the influence of demographic, radiological and clinical variables, including Body Mass Index.


RESULTS
27 patients developed a CSF fistula (15.9%): 15 were incisional (8.8%), 8 patients developed CSF rhinorrhea (4.7%), 1 CSF otorrhea (0.6%) and 3 a combination of the above (1.8%). We controlled 11 CSF fistulae with bed rest and compressive dressings (6.5%), 7 required lumbar drainage (4.1%), 2 lumbar drainage and wound closure with local anaesthesia (1.2%) and 7 patients required returning to the operating room under general anaesthesia (4.1%). There was not a significant relationship between the apparition of CSF and tumour size, type of approach, age or body mass index (BMI).


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the great development and new surgical techniques, CSF fistulae are still a frequent complication after VS surgery. There might be other aetiological factors such as intracranial pressure. There was no significant relationship between CSF fistula and BMI. Adequate management and early conservative measures led to reduced reintervention rates of less than 5% in all patients.
Diaz Anadon
Agueda
A
Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Universitario La Paz, España. aguedadiazanadon@gmail.com
Lassaletta
Luis
L
Roda
Jose Maria
JM
Gavilán Bouzas
Javier
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002558:Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D002559:Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult