A Sandwich Technique for Prevention of Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea and Reconstruction of the Sellar Floor after Microsurgical Transsphenoidal Pituitary Surgery

BACKGROUND: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks are a well-known complication of transsphenoidal surgery. Several autologous and artificial grafts have been used to close the sellar floor in an attempt to prevent postoperative CSF rhinorrhea. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and describe a sandwich technique to close the sellar floor using autologous bone, absorbable gelatin sponge, and coated collagen fleece. METHODS: We reviewed 50 consecutive patients between April 2010 and August 2011 who underwent transsphenoidal surgery ending with reconstruction of the sellar floor with a particular sandwich technique. Patients with an intraoperative CSF leak received an additional lumbar drain. RESULTS: There were no cases of CSF rhinorrhea at postoperative follow-up after 6 weeks and no revision surgery. CONCLUSION: The proposed sandwich technique for closure of the sellar floor to the sphenoid sinus is a suitable alternative to autologous grafts and seems to be effective in preventing CSF rhinorrhea.