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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Asian J Neurosurg 2023; 18(04): 761-763
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1768599
Original Article

Postoperative CSF Leak: Blood Patch—A New Avenue

Geover Lobo 
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Father Muller Medical College, Mangalore, Karnataka, India
,
Sarita R. J. Lobo
2   Department of Ophthalmology, Father Muller Medical College, Mangalore, Karnataka, India
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Abstract

Introduction Cerebrospinal fluid leak (CSF) after a neurosurgical procedure is a known complication that may result in bad outcomes (1). The incidence of CSF leak varies based on the site involved; it ranges from 4 to 32% for transsphenoidal to posterior fossa procedures. The costs involved in treating postoperative CSF leaks increases exponentially that becomes a barrier in continuing optimum treatment. There are many studies that compare the different treatment modalities and even use of sealing agents but none give an algorithm of management. Our study aims at known technique that can help to treat these kinds of low-pressure CSF leaks.

Materials and Methods This was a prospective study done over a period of 5 years from January 2014 to January 2019. All patients who underwent procedures in which durotomy was done were included in the study.

Results A total of six patients were enrolled for the study. The duration of the study spanned 5 years from January 2014 to January 2019. All the patients after taking informed consent underwent the necessary investigations and a blood patch was done. Five of the patients the CSF stopped but in one patient it persisted. This patient again underwent investigation and under image guidance another blood patch was put after which the CSF leak stopped.

Conclusion Blood patch under imaging guidance is a safe and simple technique. The success rates of cessation of CSF leaks are good. Also, it is a cost-effective method using an autograft (patient's blood).

Keywords

autograft - blood patch - CSF leak - postoperative - sealing agents


Publication History

Article published online:
29 December 2023

© 2023. Asian Congress of Neurological Surgeons. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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