Premium
Sinus anatomy associated with inadvertent cerebrospinal fluid leak during functional endoscopic sinus surgery
Author(s) -
Heaton Chase M.,
Goldberg Andrew N.,
Pletcher Steven D.,
Glastonbury Christine M.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1002/lary.23305
Subject(s) - cribriform plate , coronal plane , cerebrospinal fluid leak , leak , medicine , skull , sagittal plane , sinus (botany) , cerebrospinal fluid , ethmoid sinus , functional endoscopic sinus surgery , surgery , anatomy , nuclear medicine , sinusitis , pathology , physics , thermodynamics , botany , biology , genus
Abstract Objectives/Hypothesis: Anatomic variations in skull base anatomy may predispose the surgeon to inadvertent skull base injury with resultant cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak during functional endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). Our objective was to compare preoperative sinus imaging of patients who underwent FESS with and without CSF leak to elucidate these variations. Study Design: In this retrospective case‐control study, 18 patients with CSF leak following FESS for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) from 2000 to 2011 were compared to 18 randomly selected patients who underwent preoperative imaging for FESS for CRS. Methods: Measurements were obtained from preoperative computed tomography images with specific attention to anatomic differences in cribriform plate and ethmoid roof heights in the coronal plane, and the skull base angle in the sagittal plane. Mean values of measured variables were compared using a nonparametric Mann‐Whitney test. Results: When compared to controls, patients with CSF leak demonstrated a greater angle of the skull base in the sagittal plane ( P < .001) and a greater slope of the skull base in the coronal plane ( P < .006). A lower cribriform height relative to ethmoid roof height was also noted in cases of CSF leak as compared to controls ( P < .04). Conclusions: A steep skull base angle in the sagittal plane, a greater slope of the skull base in the coronal plane, and a low cribriform height relative to the ethmoid roof predispose the patient to CSF leak during FESS. Preoperative review of imaging with specific attention paid to these anatomic variations may help to prevent iatrogenic CSF leak. Laryngoscope, 2012