Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 11, 2026
A Unified Methodological Framework for Vestibular Schwannoma Research
Published on: June 20, 2017
A novel technique for safe intraoperative perilymph sampling in humans
William Shute1, Dongcheng Zhang2, Amy Hampson2
1Department of Otolaryngology, The University of Melbourne, 32 Gisborne St, East Melbourne, 3002, Australia. wshute@student.unimelb.edu.au.
Purpose:
To calibrate nylon epidural catheters against glass capillaries for obtaining reliable volume yields and present the development and implementation of a translatable human perilymph sampling methodology which minimally impacts cochlear function.
Methods:
Two gauges of nylon epidural catheters were calibrated against glass capillary tubes to establish the minimum fluid column height to yield a desired sample volume. We also report development of a proposed surgical methodology for in vivo sampling, and implementation in a clinical cohort study of cochlear implant recipients. We assessed the impact of sampling on hearing in a subset of hearing preservation candidates.
Results:
Correlation equations for both 18G and 16G catheters yielding a desired sample volume 'x' with a fluid column height 'y'. The equations for 18G and 16G catheters respectively are y = 6.538x + 1.0894 and 3.8008x + 0.6754. A sampling apparatus consisting of an epidural catheter passed through a house suction tip attached to a 1 mL syringe provides optimal ergonomics and manoeuvrability. Extracochlear ECochG amplitudes and thresholds are unaffected by collection of perilymph using this technique, as were 3-month hearing preservation outcomes.
Conclusion:
These results describe a safe, accurate and transferrable alternative to using glass capillaries to sample directly from the human inner ear during surgery.
