Management of cerebrospinal fluid leak after surgical removal of pituitary adenomas

Objectives. The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency and the causes of the intra- and postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks and to discuss the sella closure methods.
Methods. During the period from 1995 to 2005, 313 patients underwent 356 transsphenoidal operations for pituitary adenoma. Microadenoma was found in 80 (22.5%) cases, and in 276 (77.5%) cases, macroadenoma was removed. Two different methods to close the sella were used. The first one consisted packing the sella turcica and sphenoidal sinus with autologous fat and restoring the defect of sella turcica with autologous bone. In more resent practice, the regenerated oxidized cellulose (Surgicel^®) and collagen sponge with human fibrin (TachoSil^®) were used to cover the sella membrane defect, followed by packing the sella with autologous fat and covering the dural defect with Surgicel^® and TachoSil^®.
Results. Adenoma was totally removed in 198 (55.6%) cases out of 356. Microadenoma was totally removed in 91.3% and macroadenoma in 45.3% of cases, respectively. Postoperative complications were noted in 40 (11.2%) patients. Two (0.6%) patients died after surgery. Intraoperative CSF leakage was observed in 58 (16.3%) cases. Postoperative CSF leakages were observed in 3 cases, when the method of packing the sella with just autologous fat was used, whereas in 29 cases when the sella fat packing was used together with Surgicel^® and TachoSil^® to cover the sella membrane and dural defects, no postoperative CSF leakages were observed.
Conclusions. The technique of covering the sella membrane and dural defects with Surgicel^® and TachoSil^® in the presence of intraoperative CSF leakage appeared to be the most reliable one, as no postoperative CSF leakage applying this technique has been observed.