Continuous drainage via a lumbar catheter in terminal cistern for treatment of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage accompanied by intracranial infection

Objective: To explore the effective therapeutic strategy of cerebrospinal fluid fistula with intracranial infection in brain.Methods: Ten patients with cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) fistula and intracranial infection in brain admitted to our hospital in past 7 years were treated with lumbar puncture and continuous external drainage,and the relevant clinical material were reviewed and analyzed.Results: The leakages in 10 patients with CSF fistulae accompany by intracranial infection were reduced 1 to 2 days after continuous drainage and 9 patients were cured.The follow-up of 6 months proved no CSF fistula.One of patients suffered from brain infection.Although the infection tissue was resected,the intracranial infection and leakage of cerebrospinal fluid were not under the control.The patient was died at last.Conclusions: The continuous lumbar external drainage is a safe and effective method for curing CSF fistula with intracranial infection in brain.