title: Treatment of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea is a rare entity that can arise from a variety of causes. Successful management has been reported using a variety of repair techniques. The goal of this study is to make recommendations on intraoperative and postoperative management of CSF fistulas across all causes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pooled analysis of case series reveals that free graft repairs are successful in closing most traumatic and iatrogenic CSF leaks. In contrast, multilayered, vascularized repairs are often required for large defects with high-flow leaks that communicate with a cistern and/or ventricles. Spontaneous CSF leaks are associated with idiopathic intracranial hypertension in the vast majority of cases, and when present, postoperative medical management is necessary for long-term success.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with CSF rhinorrhea require surgical repair to prevent life-threatening complications. Many techniques and materials are effective at achieving closure of CSF fistula across causes. Evidence suggests that patients with high-flow CSF fistulas have improved outcomes with multilayered, vascularized repairs to decrease the risk of postoperative CSF leaks. Patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension need long-term management of the underlying disease process.
authors.affiliation: aDepartment of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, University of California San Diego, San Diego bDepartment of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California cDepartment of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: Adam S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: DeConde
authors.forename: Jeffrey D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Vijay R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Ramakrishnan
mesh_terms: D002559:Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D011182:Postoperative Care