Lijecnicki vjesnik 2021;143(7-8)
Skull base reconstruction after EEA (endoscopic endonasal approach) – review of 164 cases
Marcel Marjanović Kavanagh, Katarina Đurić Vuković, Gorazd Poje, Vjerislav Peterković, Dinko Leović
Abstract
SUMMARY Aim of the study To show our postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak rate for patients who underwent endoscopic endonasal approach for anterior and middle fossa pathology. Materials and methods Retrospective analysis of 164 patients with anterior and middle fossa pathology, operated via endoscopic endonasal approach between 2018 and 2021, with minimal postoperative follow-up of three months. Results We managed to reduce the postoperative CSF leak rate from 12.4% (2014–2018) to 2.4%. The CSF leaks were as following: grade 0, 0%, grade 1, 3.85%, grade 2, 8.3%, grade 3 6.9%. Conclusion A planned graded approach in managing skull base defects reduces the postoperative CSF leak rate. Our CSF leak rate of 2.4% is comparable with international standards for endoscopic endonasal approach.