Continuous cerebrospinal fluid drainage using a lumbar subarachnoid catheter for cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea after functional endoscopic sinus surgery
Chang, P.-J.; Sung, Y.-H.; Tsai, Y.-C.; Fang, S.-Y.; Chen, H.-H.
Acta Anaesthesiologica Sinica 40(2): 97-99
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0254-1319 PMID: 12194398 Document Number: 549239
Anesthesiologists are frequently consulted for performing lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage to facilitate surgery or manage complications. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is a common treatment for chronic sinus diseases. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage is a serious complication following FESS and is typically treated with an endonasal free or rotational mucoperichondrial flap. Continuous drainage of CSF with a lumbar subarachnoid catheter has been used in patients who have undergone neurosurgery but it is seldom used in the treatment of post-FESS CSF rhinorrhea. We present a 71-year-old male patient who suffered from CSF rhinorrhea after FESS, and was treated successfully with continuous lumbar CSF drainage. We are of the opinion that continuous CSF drainage with a lumbar subarachnoid catheter is an effective and safe modality of treatment for post-FESS CSF leakage.