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Suggest Treatment For Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak In An Elderly Person
Posted on
Sat, 5 Dec 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sat, 5 Dec 2015
Answered on
Mon, 28 Dec 2015
Last reviewed on
Question : Will a blood patch help stop CSF leak and is it dangerous for someone 68??
Brief Answer:
It works with small dural openings.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again and thanks for asking me directly.
A blood patch could stop cerebrospinal fluid leak from small dural defects (holes) usually caused by needles and is helpful in reducing headaches related to low intracranial pressure.
It is necessary first to be sure that there is a CSF leakage, epidural blood patch could not work in CSF collections.
It is a minimally invasive procedure with no or little complication possibilities and is applied at any age when needed.
My suggestion is that since you don't experience headaches yet, this procedure can wait.
Hope I've been of help.
I remain at your disposal for further questions and clarifications.
Wishing you good health.
It works with small dural openings.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again and thanks for asking me directly.
A blood patch could stop cerebrospinal fluid leak from small dural defects (holes) usually caused by needles and is helpful in reducing headaches related to low intracranial pressure.
It is necessary first to be sure that there is a CSF leakage, epidural blood patch could not work in CSF collections.
It is a minimally invasive procedure with no or little complication possibilities and is applied at any age when needed.
My suggestion is that since you don't experience headaches yet, this procedure can wait.
Hope I've been of help.
I remain at your disposal for further questions and clarifications.
Wishing you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
What test will show if I have a leak? I've had ctmyelogram you reviewed - does it show a leak or a collection of fluid? A neurosurgeon here said my am nausea is probably from a leak I've had since the surgery 4 years ago where the dura could not be closed as indicated in the operative report - dura was closed with Gelfoam - isn't that absorbed by the body?
Is there a specialist in CSF leaks in the US I could see?
Brief Answer:
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back and thanks for being on follow up.
Regarding to report you uploaded from Mayo Clinic, there is pseudomeningocele at surgery level.
Gelfoam isn't absorbed, it helps closing dural defect by binding to it.
Besides CT myelography, MRI of the spinal cord could give additional information about pseudomeningocele anatomy.
Surgical procedure to reconstruct the dural defect includes autologous dural graft from fascia latta or peri cranium.
Hetologus dural grafts could be used also.
Neurosugeons mentioned in our previous discussion, deal with pseudomeningocele surgery also, so, if it is possible, you should consult one of them.
Hope I helped you.
Best regards.
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back and thanks for being on follow up.
Regarding to report you uploaded from Mayo Clinic, there is pseudomeningocele at surgery level.
Gelfoam isn't absorbed, it helps closing dural defect by binding to it.
Besides CT myelography, MRI of the spinal cord could give additional information about pseudomeningocele anatomy.
Surgical procedure to reconstruct the dural defect includes autologous dural graft from fascia latta or peri cranium.
Hetologus dural grafts could be used also.
Neurosugeons mentioned in our previous discussion, deal with pseudomeningocele surgery also, so, if it is possible, you should consult one of them.
Hope I helped you.
Best regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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