Management of Spontaneous Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Otorrhea

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: This series will focus on the diagnosis and management of spontaneous CSF (sCSF) leaks. Topics to be covered will include preoperative diagnostics to confirm diagnosis of sCSF leak, imaging methods to localize the CSF leak, surgical management of sSCF leaks and postoperative management of comorbid conditions that contribute to sCSF leaks such as sleep apnea and intracranial hypertension.

This series is significant because patient morbidity (including meningitis, neurologic compromise and potentially death) can result from unrecognized or insufficiently treated sCSF leaks. The rate of sCSF leaks has more than doubled in the past decade and is highly associated with obesity. Thus, sCSF leaks need to be recognized by all otolaryngologists so patient treatment is not delayed. Incorrect or delayed diagnosis of sCSF leaks leads to increased medical costs related to physician visits, costs and risks of non-effective medications, costs and risks of non-effective procedures (i.e. tympanomastoidectomy, CSF otorrhea occurring after placement of a tympanostomy tube in a patient with presumed serous otitis media).

The goal of this series is that all physicians will be able to recognize and diagnose sCSF leaks leading to expeditious treatment.