Repair of recurrent cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea and skull base defect by endoscope

Objective: To evaluate the failed causes of repairing the cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea and the use of endoscope techniques.

Methods: Eighteen cases with recurrent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea were retrospective studied.

Results: Thirteen cases were repaired successfully at the first time transnasal endoscope and three cases succeed at the second attempt, two cases lost following-up after the failed repairing.

Conclusions: Endoscopic repairing of CSF rhinorrhea is effective. The failure factors were: the leak location, repairing material and placement techniques, the area of skull base defect, correct localizing leak etc.