Management of postoperative CSF rhinorrhea after retrosigmoid craniotomy: how I do it.

Abstract

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea as a complication of retrosigmoid craniotomy does not occur often today. This complication is primarily associated with the petrous bone drilling during surgery. The management of this complication is shown by the example of the patient with a trigeminal schwannoma located in posterior cranial fossa operated through resrisigmoid craniotomy. Three steps of management and surgical stages of petrous bone plasty are shown. CSF rhinorrhea after retrosigmoid craniotomy is a preventable complication: petrous bone pneumatization should be evaluated preoperatively. If the air cells are open, primary plasty of the defect should be performed.