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Long-term hearing prognosis after vestibular schwannoma surgery with retrolabyrinthine approach
Makoto Hosoya1, Takanori Nishiyama1, Marie N Shimanuki1
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Keio University, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.
Purpose:
The retrolabyrinthine approach is a surgical method designed to preserve hearing after surgery. When paired with intraoperative monitoring and an endoscope, this approach has demonstrated high rates of postoperative hearing preservation. However, the long-term prognosis of hearing preservation after utilizing this approach for vestibular schwannomas remains unexplored. This study aimed to examine the long-term outcomes of preserved hearing, providing insights into the suitability of the retrolabyrinthine approach for hearing preservation surgery.
Methods:
This study included 34 patients with preserved hearing after vestibular schwannoma surgery using the retrolabyrinthine approach at a single center. Long-term hearing prognosis and requirement for additional interventions were retrospectively examined.
Results:
Immediate after post-operative hearing preservation rate was 71.7%. Among the 34 patients with preserved hearing post-vestibular schwannoma surgery, four (11.8%) required additional interventions. Other patients experienced a gradual deterioration in their hearing status, with an approximate 10 dB decline during the 5-year follow-up; however, a serviceable hearing level persisted long after the surgery in these individuals.
Conclusions:
This study indicated the rationale for the retrolabyrinthine approach as a hearing preservation surgery for vestibular schwannomas, emphasizing its long-term hearing prognosis.
