Perilymphatic fistula: a New Hampshire experience

Thirty-five patients with perilymphatic fistulas (PLFs) are presented. Of this group of 35 patients (39 ears), 4 patients did not have fistulas that could be observed with certainty but were presumed to have fistulas by virtue of their excellent response to surgical repair. Our case reports provide examples of the great variety and possible classifications of presentations and symptom complexes that lead one to suspect the diagnosis of perilymphatic fistula. Comments on diagnostic and therapeutic modalities and on postoperative care and counseling are included. The age range of patients in our series is 3 to 67 years. Four patients are under age 20, and an additional three patients probably developed their symptoms prior to age 20 but presented later. Twenty-three (79%) of 29 patients with spontaneous PLFs began having symptoms closely related to some event involving physical or mechanical stress, and a high percentage (76%) had symptoms aggravated by physical stress. Six are believed to have fistulas of congenital origin. There is a sibling pair and a mother and son in the series; these four people had bilateral fistulas.