Conservative Management of CSF Leak

Abstract

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea may be classified as traumatic and nontraumatic. The clinical presentation of CSF rhinorrhea includes unilateral watery drainage with a characteristic metallic or salty taste, often in the clinical setting of possible etiologic factors. Conservative treatment is recommended in cases of CSF leaks due to nonsurgical head trauma, while operative repair is preferred in those cases in which these conservative measures fail or in which massive injury requires urgent operative repair. Endoscopic endonasal repair has emerged as the gold standard modality for most cases of CSF rhinorrhea requiring surgical intervention.