Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39132996›Full record

ArticleOperative neurosurgery (Hagerstown, Md.)2025

Microsurgical Repair of Ventral Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks in Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension: Efficacy and Safety of Patch-Sealing Versus Suturing.

Thomas Petutschnigg, Levin Häni, Johannes Goldberg, Tomas Dobrocky, Eike I Piechowiak, Andreas Raabe, C Marvin Jesse, Ralph T Schär

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in Operative neurosurgery (Hagerstown, Md.), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Thomas PetutschniggDepartment of Neurosurgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern , Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0003-1819-3210
Levin HäniDepartment of Neurosurgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern , Switzerland.
Johannes GoldbergDepartment of Neurosurgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern , Switzerland.
Tomas DobrockyInstitute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Bern , Switzerland.
Eike I PiechowiakInstitute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Bern , Switzerland.
Andreas RaabeDepartment of Neurosurgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern , Switzerland.
C Marvin JesseDepartment of Neurosurgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern , Switzerland.
Ralph T SchärDepartment of Neurosurgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern , Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0001-8998-9668

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectivesIn patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH), microsurgical repair is recommended in Type 1 (ventral) dural leaks, when conservative measures fail. However, there is lacking consensus on the optimal surgical technique for permanent and safe closure of ventral leaks.

methodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of surgically treated SIH patients with Type 1 leaks at our institution between 2013 and 2023. Patients were analyzed according to the type of surgical technique: (1) Microsurgical suture vs (2) extradural and intradural patching (sealing technique). End points were resolution of spinal longitudinal epidural cerebrospinal fluid collection (SLEC), change in brain SIH-Score (Bern-Score), headache resolution after 3 months, surgery time, complications, and reoperation rates.

resultsIn total, 85 (66% women) patients with consecutive SIH (mean age 47 ± 11 years) underwent transdural microsurgical repair. The leak was sutured in 53 (62%) patients (suture group) and patch-sealed in 32 (38%) patients (sealing group). We found no significant difference in the rates of residual SLEC and resolution of headache between suture and sealing groups (13% vs 22%, P = .238 and 89% vs 94%, P = .508). No changes were found in the postoperative Bern-Score between suture and sealing groups (1.4 [±1.6] vs 1.7 [±2.1] P = 1). Mean surgery time was significantly shorter in the sealing group than in the suture group (139 ± 48 vs 169 ± 51 minutes; P = .007). Ten patients of the suture and 3 of the sealing group had a complication (23% vs 9%, P = .212), whereas 6 patients of the suture and 2 patients of the sealing group required reoperation (11% vs 6%, P = .438).

conclusionMicrosurgical suturing and patch-sealing of ventral dural leaks in patients with SIH are equally effective. Sealing alone is a significantly faster technique, requiring less spinal cord manipulation and may therefore minimize the risk of surgical complications.

Indexed as

Blood Patch, EpiduralCerebrospinal Fluid LeakIntracranial HypotensionMicrosurgeryNeurosurgical ProceduresSuture TechniquesAdultFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesTreatment Outcome

Identifiers

PMID39132996
PMCPMC11809960

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.