title: Prevention of cerebrospinal fluid leak after translabyrinthine resection of vestibular schwannoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate the rate of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak after translabyrinthine craniotomy for the removal of vestibular schwannoma and describe details of closure technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  All individuals undergoing translabyrinthine craniotomy for removal of vestibular schwannoma from January 2000 to October 2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  Translabyrinthine craniotomy for removal of vestibular schwannoma with abdominal fat graft harvest and layered closure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Presence of cerebrospinal fluid leak and need for additional surgeries or medical interventions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-one patients underwent translabyrinthine craniotomy for the removal of vestibular schwannoma during a 9-year period. None of the patients had a CSF leak in the immediate postoperative period or during the mean follow-up period of 31.3 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Successful wound closure and CSF leak prevention after translabyrinthine craniotomy for the removal of vestibular schwannomas do not require the creation of a facial recess, manipulation of the ossicles, direct Eustachian tube plugging, or the use of alloplastic space-occupying materials. The closure technique used in the current study has proven effective over time with no evidence of CSF leak among patients seen in follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.A.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Goddard
authors.forename: Eric R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Lambert
mesh_terms: D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000637:transplantation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002558:Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002559:Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000601:surgery*; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous / Q000379:methods; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000601:surgery*