title: A Sandwich Technique for Prevention of Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea and Reconstruction of the Sellar Floor after Microsurgical Transsphenoidal Pituitary Surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks are a well-known complication of transsphenoidal surgery. Several autologous and artificial grafts have been used to close the sellar floor in an attempt to prevent postoperative CSF rhinorrhea.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate and describe a sandwich technique to close the sellar floor using autologous bone, absorbable gelatin sponge, and coated collagen fleece.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed 50 consecutive patients between April 2010 and August 2011 who underwent transsphenoidal surgery ending with reconstruction of the sellar floor with a particular sandwich technique. Patients with an intraoperative CSF leak received an additional lumbar drain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no cases of CSF rhinorrhea at postoperative follow-up after 6 weeks and no revision surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proposed sandwich technique for closure of the sellar floor to the sphenoid sinus is a suitable alternative to autologous grafts and seems to be effective in preventing CSF rhinorrhea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Christian F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Freyschlag
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Stephanie Alice
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Goerke
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Obernauer
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kerschbaumer
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Claudius
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thomé
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seiz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002559:Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012658:Sella Turcica / Q000601:surgery*; D013101:Sphenoid Sinus / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult