Percentage of surgical cases that present CSF leak?

[Robquinn9]

Just curious if anyone might recall what their doctors recited as the percentage liklihood that a CSF leak would present itself?

My wife had the retrosigmoid procedure 3/13/06 for a 2.8 x 2.5 AN, and then she developed a CSF leak 3/18/06.  She's currently got a lumbar drain in as we speak.

Our doctor said that 3-4% of his practice's cases would present this condition.

[wanderer]

that is similar to the number I remember.

Although I have heard numbers as high a 6% to 10% through my reading.

[DeniseSmith]

My dr. never even mentioned the possibility of a CSF leak. 

Mine happen because my tumor was so large and it rubbed on (for lack of a better term) lining in my brain. I sneezed and rupture it causing me to have a second surgery to repair the lining and a drain was installed at that time.  I spent 5 days in the hospital on my back, unable to get up.

I wish your wife the best.
Denise

[Static]

My situation was similar to Denise but I didn't go right in for the test.........long story.  I spent only 3 days on my back with the drain and had a few spinal headaches but caffeine was recommended for it and did help.  I don't drink coffee or hot tea so I drank lots of iced tea.  Maybe that is something your wife can try if she develops the spinal headaches, caffeine in some way or another.  I wish her the best.

[Katja]

Hi there!
Changes for CSF leak are very small. When I had my first one doctor said it is very seldom and he closed everything. When I had my second one from my nose he said that he has done surgeries for 20 years and he has never never faced problem like I had. That was something strange for him.  He was just shaking his head...But don't worry surgeries for CSF leak is much smaller and easier than the main operation. Good Luck!

[Robquinn9]

Procedure was a success yesterday.  Home and recovering.