Bilateral, spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea: endoscopic, uninasal, trans-septal approach for simultaneous closure.

BACKGROUND

Bilateral, spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea is extremely rare, with only one previous case report (this patient developed contralateral cerebrospinal fluid leakage four years after successful endoscopic repair). We present the first English-language report of simultaneous, bilateral, spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea.

OBJECTIVE

To recommend a simple alternative endoscopic technique for simultaneous closure of bilateral, spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea.

CASE REPORT: A 47-year-old woman presented with recent onset of bilateral, spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea, a recent history suggestive of meningitis, and a past history of pneumococcal meningitis. Bony defects on both sides of the cribriform plate were closed endoscopically in the same anaesthetic session, via a uninasal, trans-septal approach, enabling both leakage sites to be sealed simultaneously.

CONCLUSION

In cases of bilateral, spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea, uninasal, trans-septal endoscopic repair is a simple and effective technique for simultaneous closure of cerebrospinal fluid leakage.