A Unified Management for Spontaneous CSF Leak

Background: Spontaneous CSF leak represents less frequent cause of CSF leak, but cases are more difficult to control, with the highest failure rate and recurrence despite adequate repair. The problems in these cases might be related to an underlying undiagnosed associated intracranial hypertension. Recognition and long-term treatment of elevated ICP is therefore critical to the successful management of these patients. Objective: To evaluate the CSF pressure in cases of spontaneous CSF rhinorrhea and to describe our same setting combined protocol to the repair of the leak, measurement and management of CSF pressure. Patients and Methods: All patients presenting to Ain Shams University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt, with spontaneous CSF leak were included prospectively in the study. Clinical and radiologic data were collected to suspect elevated intracranial pressure. After CSF repair, CSF pressure was measured and if found to be more than 20 cmH2O, a lumboperitoneal shunt was used. Results: Twenty-seven cases, 23 women and 4 men, presented with spontaneous CSF leak. 23 patients had BMI above 30. All patients had empty sella syndrome (100%), and a meningoencephalocele was found in 13 cases (48%). CSF pressure ranged from 5 to 39 cmH2O (mean = 28.7). A pressure above 21 cmH2O was found in19 patients (70%) and subsequently had lumboperitoneal shunt in the same setting. No recurrence occurred in this subset of patients with 6 60 months follow-up period. Conclusion: A selective and specific same setting protocol can result in a better diagnosis and control of the accompanying elevated ICP in cases of spontaneous CSF leak. It avoids a second operative intervention, and shortens the hospital stay, with an increase in the success rate. In the same time, the smaller number of patients with normal ICP can avoid further drainage.