title: Cerebrospinal fluid fistula after endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery: experience in a spanish center.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistula is the most serious complication after transsphenoidal surgery.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the incidence of CSF fistula after endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for tumor removal in sellar region; to discuss associated factors and methods used for sellar closure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study of 67 patients (73 surgeries) operated via transsphenoidal endoscopy at Hospital Vall D'Hebron and Hospital Clinic of the Universidad de Barcelona, Spain. The data collected included: age, sex, hospitalization stay, suprasellar extension of the lesion, type of tumor, evidence of intraoperative CSF fistula, complications of postoperative CSF fistula, previous surgery and radiotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six patients (8.2%) had postoperative CSF fistula, and their average hospitalization was 5 days longer with resulting complications: two of whom had pneumoencephalus and two with meningitis. No association was found between the data collected and postoperative CSF fistula.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rate of CSF fistula after endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery from the present study is contained within the literature. Unlike other reports, no association between the variables and postoperative CSF fistula was found in this report.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology of São Paulo Medical School, Division of Neurosurgery, Central Building, Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo SP, Brazil. alicia21221@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Alicia Del Carmen Becerra
authors.initials: Adel C
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: Joaquim Enseñat
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Nora
authors.forename: Thomaz Eduardo
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Topczewski
authors.forename: Paulo Henrique Pires de
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Aguiar
authors.forename: Isam
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Alobid
authors.forename: Enrique Ferrer
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Rodriguéz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002559:Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044583:Neuroendoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013100:Sphenoid Bone / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult