title: Quality control approach to cerebrospinal fluid leaks.
abstract: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks are one of the most common complications of endoscopic sinus and skull base surgery, and are associated with significant morbidity and cost. A quality improvement program can be designed for individual surgeons or groups of surgeons to monitor outcomes and implement changes to decrease the risk of a postoperative CSF leak. Analytic tools include a root cause analysis, statistical analysis of risk factors, and predictive modeling. Monitoring of outcomes is accomplished with a time series plot or run chart. A circular action loop for assessing and implementing changes facilitates incremental progress and creates a learning culture for the institution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC Center for Cranial Base Surgery, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh PA 15213, USA. snydermanch@upmc.edu
authors.forename: Carl H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Snyderman
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Gardner
mesh_terms: D065634:Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak; D002559:Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea / Q000601:surgery*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D011786:Quality Control; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D019291:Skull Base / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps