The Laryngoscope
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Meningitis and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak are serious complications of acoustic tumor surgery. Previous reports have varied in the incidence of and the predisposing factors to these complications. This study reviews a series of 723 acoustic tumors removed via the translabyrinthine approach at the House Ear Clinic in Los Angeles. ⋯ Meningitis occurred more frequently in larger tumors, and patients with either complication had a longer hospital stay. The presence of CSF leak did not predispose to meningitis. It is concluded that technical factors account for postoperative CSF leak and meningitis after translabyrinthine acoustic tumor removal.