Utilization of Preoperative Cerebrospinal Fluid Drain in Skull Base Surgery

Abstract

A preoperatively placed lumbar drain can significantly lower the rate of postoperative CSF leakage after skull base surgery. The drain is a well-tolerated adjunct to dural closure and helps increase surgical exposure of the posterior fossa. The comorbidities of diabetes, smoking, or hypertension do not contribute to an increased rate of CSF leakage.dagger Lyal Leibrock M.D., F.A.C.S. is Deceased.