Sellar Floor Reconstruction with and without Intrasellar Fat Packing after Endoscopic Resection of Large Pituitary Macroadenomas with Evident Intraoperative CSF Leak

Abstract

Background Intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak is not uncommon with endoscopic transsphenoidal surgical excision of pituitary macroadenomas. How to seal the defect and prevent postoperative leak is still a matter of debate. Objectives In patients with CSF leak, we tried to figure out which is more important in preventing postoperative leak, is it the sellar fat packing, is it tight repair of the sellar floor, or do we need to combine them both? Patients and Methods Over 5 years, in patients with evident intraoperative CSF leak, with growing experience supported by positive postoperative results, we shifted gradually from intrasellar packing using combined fat graft and bioabsorbable materials (SURGICEL FIBRILLAR/Gelfoam) (group A, n =15) to only bioabsorbable materials (group B, n = 18), either of which is followed by tight repair of the sellar floor. Results Postoperative clinical assessment did not differ significantly between both groups at early, midterm, and long-term follow-up intervals. We did not have any patients with delayed postoperative CSF leak or symptomatic empty sella syndrome (ESS). Conclusion There is no difference in the incidence of postoperative CSF leak and clinical ESS among both groups, indicating that tight sellar floor repair is more important than packing the sellar cavity with or without fat graft.

Keywords

• fat graft
• sellar floor
• csf leak