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Percutaneous Treatment and Post-treatment Management of CSF Leaks and CSF-Venous Fistulas in Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Houk, JL; Kranz, PG; Amrhein, TJ
Published in: Neurosurg Clin N Am
October 2025

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is a treatable cause of orthostatic headaches secondary to pathologic loss of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the subarachnoid space. SIH has several known pathologic causes including dural tears from disc osteophytes, leaks emanating from nerve root sleeve diverticula, and CSF-venous fistulas (CVFs). Depending on the type of leak, surgical repair or endovascular techniques may be options for definite treatment. However, epidural blood patching (EBP) remains first-line therapy for many patients due to its long track record, broad availability, and relatively lower risk profile. This review focuses on indications and techniques for the percutaneous treatment of SIH and provides an overview of post-procedural management of these patients.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Neurosurg Clin N Am

DOI

EISSN

1558-1349

Publication Date

October 2025

Volume

36

Issue

4

Start / End Page

601 / 611

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Intracranial Hypotension
  • Humans
  • Fistula
  • Endovascular Procedures
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak
  • Blood Patch, Epidural
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Houk, J. L., Kranz, P. G., & Amrhein, T. J. (2025). Percutaneous Treatment and Post-treatment Management of CSF Leaks and CSF-Venous Fistulas in Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension. Neurosurg Clin N Am, 36(4), 601–611. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nec.2025.04.004
Houk, Jessica L., Peter G. Kranz, and Timothy J. Amrhein. “Percutaneous Treatment and Post-treatment Management of CSF Leaks and CSF-Venous Fistulas in Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension.Neurosurg Clin N Am 36, no. 4 (October 2025): 601–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nec.2025.04.004.
Houk, Jessica L., et al. “Percutaneous Treatment and Post-treatment Management of CSF Leaks and CSF-Venous Fistulas in Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension.Neurosurg Clin N Am, vol. 36, no. 4, Oct. 2025, pp. 601–11. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.nec.2025.04.004.
Journal cover image

Published In

Neurosurg Clin N Am

DOI

EISSN

1558-1349

Publication Date

October 2025

Volume

36

Issue

4

Start / End Page

601 / 611

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Intracranial Hypotension
  • Humans
  • Fistula
  • Endovascular Procedures
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak
  • Blood Patch, Epidural