Nasoseptal flap repair after endoscopic transsellar versus expanded endonasal approaches: is there an increased risk of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak?

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS The development of expanded endoscopic endonasal approaches (EEAs) has allowed resection of cranial-base lesions beyond the sella. One major criticism is an increased risk of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage because of the larger skull base defect. We evaluated our experience with vascularized pedicled nasoseptal flap (PNSF) reconstruction and compared the postoperative CSF leak rates between patients undergoing endoscopic transsphenoidal (transsellar) approaches versus expanded EEA (transplanum-transtuberculum, transcribriform, transclival). STUDY DESIGN Retrospective analysis at a tertiary care medical center. METHODS A retrospective review of a prospective database was performed on patients who underwent PNSF reconstruction for intraoperative high-flow CSF leaks after EEA between December 2008 and August 2011. Demographic data, repair materials, surgical approach, and incidence of postoperative CSF leaks were collected. RESULTS Thirty-seven transsellar defects (group I) were repaired with a PNSF, and 32 expanded EEA defects (19 transplanum-transtuberculum, 10 transcribriform, three transclival) (group II) were repaired with a PNSF. No postoperative CSF leaks occurred in group I. One delayed postoperative CSF leak was encountered in group II leading to a 3.1% leak rate in that group. The incidence of postoperative CSF leakage was not significantly different between the two groups (P > .05). Our overall success rate in this series using a PNSF was 98.6%. CONCLUSIONS Based on our data, there is no significant increased risk of postoperative CSF leak between transsellar and expanded EEA defects when a PNSF is used. The potential risk of postoperative CSF leaks associated with larger defects created through expanded EEA can be minimized by multilayered closure with a PNSF and meticulous surgical technique.