Unpredictable hearing loss after intratympanic gentamicin treatment for vertigo. A new theory

A new hypothesis is advanced suggesting that unpredictable cases of profound hearing loss after intratympanic gentamicin treatment (IGT) may be caused by decreased patency of the communication routes between the inner ear and the cerebrospinal fluid, primarily of the cochlear aqueduct. A tympanic displacement analyzer, which can indirectly analyze inner ear and intracranial pressure changes and can also evaluate the efficiency of communication between these two compartments, was used. Two cases are presented: in the first, a patient who became deaf after IGT showed signs of decreased patency of the communication routes with the tympanic membrane displacement (TMD) test; in the second, a patient without hearing damage after IGT had efficient communication evaluated by the TMD test. These preliminary findings are in accordance with the proposed pathophysiology. If future clinical studies confirm the present theory and findings, it may prove possible to predict and prevent deafness after IGT and possibly also after systemic aminoglycoside treatment.