One thousand endoscopic skull base surgical procedures demystifying the infection potential: incidence and description of postoperative meningitis and brain abscesses.

Background: Endonasal endoscopic skull base surgery (ESBS) is perceived as having a high risk of infection because it is performed through the sinuses, which are not sterile.

Objective: To identify the bacteriological characteristics, incidence, mortality, and risk factors for intracranial infection after ESBS.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of the first 1,000 ESBS procedures performed at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center from 1998 to 2008.

Results: In 18 cases (1.8%), the patient developed meningitis. In 2 cases, the patient died within 2 months after surgery, of noninfectious causes. In 11 cases, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cultures had positive results. There were no predominant pathogens. Male sex (odds ratio [OR], 3.97 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.21-13.03]; P = .02), history of a craniotomy or endonasal surgery (OR, 4.77 [95% CI, 1.68-13.56]; P = .02), surgery with higher levels of complexity (OR, 6.60 [95% CI, 1.77-24.70]; P = .003), the presence of an external ventricular drain or ventriculoperitoneal shunt at the time of surgery (OR, 6.38 [95% CI, 1.07-38.09]; P = .005), and postoperative CSF leak (OR, 12.99 [95% CI, 4.24-39.82]; P < .001) were risk factors for infection.

Conclusion: The incidence of infection of 1.8% in ESBS is comparable to that in open craniotomy. The most important risk factor was a postoperative CSF leak. All patients recovered from their infection.