Cerebrospinal fistula might occur in different ways. CSF closure techniques have undergone significant evolution that has led to the consolidation of the transnasal endoscopic approach. Despite the existence of multiple publications, meaningful information is still lacking in clinical practice and the literature about the ideal method, material, and timing for repair of CSF. The purpose of this review was to summarize the success rate of endoscopic CSF leak repair as well as whether specific techniques or materials influence the primary success rate through a review of the latest advancements in endoscopic CSF management published in the past 10 years. The principles of multilayer reconstructions and the routine use of vascularized flaps in expanded endonasal surgery have reduced postoperative CSF leaks' failure rates between 5% and 10% (4% in this meta-analysis). Effective endoscopic anterior skull base (ASB) closure may be achieved by multiple reconstructive techniques, which should be tailored case by case according to the patient and defect conditions.cerebrospinal fistula, endoscopic treatment, meta-analysis, systematic review, transnasal endoscopic surgery

La trasposizione di lembi liberi microvascolari rappresenta oggi la procedura maggiormente diffusa nelle ricostruzioni del distretto testacollo. Tuttavia, non tutti i pazienti sono candidati ideali per ricostruzioni microvascolari, né tutti i difetti richiedono necessariamente lembi microvascolari per ottenere buoni risultati funzionali. Lo scopo di questo studio è quello di valutare se la ricostruzione di difetti del distretto testa-collo mediante lembi peduncolati sia inferiore alle ricostruzioni microvascolari in termini di complicanze, outcome funzionale e prognosi. In una coorte di pazienti consecutivi che sono stati sottoposti a resezione maggiore per carcinomi del distretto testa collo, abbiamo confrontato i dati delle ricostruzioni mediante lembi peduncolati con quelli delle ricostruzioni microvascolari. Tutti gli interventi sono stati eseguiti da un unico chirurgo dal 2006 al 2015. Sono stati inclusi un totale di 93 pazienti, la maggior parte dei quali affetti da carcinoma del cavo orale (n = 59), di cui 64 hanno subito ricostruzione tramite lembo peduncolato (69%). Nei due gruppi non si sono registrate differenze significative in termini di necrosi del lembo, complicanze ed outcome funzionale. L’analisi multivariata ha mostrato che le comorbidità preoperatorie rappresentano l’unico fattore significativo per il rischio di complicanze nella guarigione del lembo (p = 0,019). Nei due gruppi l’analisi di sopravvivenza e l’analisi di regressione proporzionale al rischio di recidiva di malattia o metastasi a distanza non hanno mostrato differenze significative. In questo studio retrospettivo di coorte, non randomizzato, i lembi peduncolati non sono risultati significativamente inferiori rispetto ai lembi liberi in termini complicanze, outcome e prognosi.

Aim: In a pilot prospective study, we aimed to test the feasibility and report on the preliminary results on the expression of molecular biomarkers in wound drainage fluids (WDFs) of operated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. Material and methods: Nineteen patients undergoing primary tumor resection with en-block neck dissection were enrolled. In postoperative days 1-3, the expression of several biomarkers in WDFs was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits and correlated with clinical and histopathologic features. Results: The expression of stromal cell-derived factor 1 (CXCL-12) was significantly increased in WDFs in presence of lymph node metastases, extranodal extension (ENE), and in case of close resection margins. In addition, Osteopontin expression was significantly increased in presence of ENE, whereas transforming growth factor beta (TGF-b) detection was significantly reduced. At multivariate analysis, CXCL-2 levels in both day 1 and 3 post-surgery were the only factor which retained significance in the prediction of close surgical margins (p = 0.028 and 0.025 for day 1 and day 3, respectively). Both CXCL-2 and Ostepontin assays were significantly correlated with ENE (p = 0.018 and 0.035 for day 1; 0.052 and 0.025 for day 3, respectively) whereas TGF-b expression was significant at day 1 only (p = 0.038) Conclusions: Our pilot study showed that WDFs could qualify as a potential source of relevant postoperative information. Further studies are needed to confirm the prognostic impact of CXCL-12, Osteopontin and TGF-b expressed in WDFs on the personalized management of HNSCC.

No abstract