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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 October 2024
Endoscopic endonasal surgery of the skull base carries the risk of meningitis. However, no consensus on the prophylactic antibiotic regimen exists.
A prospectively held database documenting endoscopic endonasal repair of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks in the anterior skull base was reviewed. Post-operative meningitis and antibiotic usage within 30 days of the index procedure were recorded.
A total of 285 consecutive cases were identified with a post-operative meningitis rate of 3.5 per cent. The post-operative confirmed bacterial meningitis rate was 2 per cent. All cases received a single dose of a single agent antibiotic peri-operatively.
The risk of developing post-operative meningitis was associated with a post-operative CSF leak in cases undergoing tumour resection of the anterior skull base.
A single dose, single agent peri-operative antibiotic regimen would appear to be adequate following an endoscopic endonasal approach to repair a CSF leak in the anterior skull base.
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