A critical review of the results of treatment of 125 patients with Meniere's disease by the endolymphatic subarachnoid shunt is presented. Of the patients, 61% experienced improvement in vertigo. Hearing stabilized or improved in the majority of cases.
Detailed analysis of preoperative factors did not enable prediction of the likelihood of success in an individual case. The controversy regarding surgical therapy of Meniere's disease is discussed, and the conclusion that there is a role for endolymphatic sac surgery in the treatment of Meniere's disease is presented.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
LinthicumFL, AlonsoA, DeniaA: Traumatic neuroma: A complication of transcanal labyrinthectomy. Arch Otolaryngol, to be published.
2.
HouseWF: Subarachnoid shunt for drainage of hydrops: A report of 63 cases. Arch Otolaryngol79: 338–340, 1964.
3.
BrackmannDE: Endolymphatic-subarachnoid shunt: A new design. Otolaryngology86:ORL-930–ORL-931, 1978.
4.
AlfordBR: Report on subcommittee on equilibrium and its measurements: Meniere's disease: Criteria for diagnosis and evaluation of therapy for reporting results. Trans Am Acad Ophthalmol Otolaryngol76: 1462–1464, 1972.
SheaJJ, EmmettJR: The surgical treatment of Meniere's disease. Laryngoscope89: 1244–1257, 1979.
7.
SchuknechtHF: Pathology of Meniere's disease as it relates to sac and tack procedures. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol86: 677–682, 1977.
8.
ClemisJ, ValvassoriGE: Recent radiographic and clinical observations of the vestibular aqueduct: A preliminary report. Otolaryngol Clin North Am, October1968, pp 339–346.
9.
HouseWF: Subarachnoid shunt for drainage of hydrops: A report of 146 cases. Laryngoscope75: 1547–1551, 1965.
GlasscockM, MillerGW, DrakeFD: Surgical management of Meniere's disease with the endolymphatic subarachnoid shunt: A five year study. Laryngoscope87: 1668–1675, 1977.
12.
GardnerG: Endolymphatic sac shunt operation in Meniere's disease. Trans Am Acad Ophthalmol Otolaryngol80:ORL-306–ORL-313, 1975.
13.
SilversteinH: The effect of the endolymphatic subarachnoid shunt operation on vestibular function. Laryngoscope88: 1603–1611, 1978.
14.
PaparellaMD, HansonDG: Endolymphatic sac drainage for intractable vertigo (method and experiences). Laryngoscope85: 697–703, 1975.