Treatment of venous pulsatile tinnitus by compression reconstruction of sigmoid sinus

Surgical intervention can effectively treat venous pulsatile tinnitus.

To assess the effectiveness of treating of venous pulsatile tinnitus (VPT) by compression reconstruction of sigmoid sinus (SSCR) under local anesthesia.

This study retrospectively reviewed 41 patients with VPT in our otolaryngology department between September 2009 and February 2019. Under local anesthesia, all patients were received SSCR. Pre- and postoperative Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) degree and scores were used to evaluate the efficacy of SSCR for VPT.

Of the 41 patients, 36 patients were followed up from 9 months to 8 years and 5 patients were lost to follow-up and were excluded from the data analysis. SSCR was clinically effective in 86% of patients with complete disappearance in 18 patients (50%), partial remission in 10 patients (28%), slight alleviation in 3 patients (8%), and no change in 5 patients (14%). The pre- and postoperative THI degree and scores were significantly different (p < .001 and p = .002, respectively).

SSCR under local anesthesia is effective for treating patients with VPT. It is critical to perform a rigorous pre-operative clinical and radiological evaluation to reduce intra- and postoperative complications.