Abstract Postseptoplasty cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak is rare but can progress rapidly to life-threatening complications. We report the case of a 36-year-old woman who presented with bilateral rhinorrhea and severe headache 2 weeks after septoplasty, with imaging revealing an anterior cranial fossa defect and pneumocephalus. Despite undergoing two endoscopic skull-base repairs, CSF diversion procedures, and broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy, she developed ventriculitis, hydrocephalus, recurrent seizures, and progressive neurological decline. Intensive multidisciplinary management in the intensive care unit was unable to halt her deterioration and she ultimately experienced a fatal outcome. This case emphasizes the clinically significant of early detection of postoperative CSF leaks, meticulous surgical planning, and urgent referral to specialized centers to mitigate the risks of fatal intracranial complications. Increased clinical awareness is particularly warranted in patients with predisposing factors, including female sex, a thin skull base, low-lying cribriform plate, and elevated body mass index, as these characteristics may increase the susceptibility to CSF leak development and subsequent adverse outcomes.
Abumansour et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
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