Sudden sensorineural hearing loss: operative complication in non-otologic surgery

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Neurosurgery
• Anesthesiology

Background:

• Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is typically associated with viral or vascular causes.
• Hearing loss as a complication of non-otologic surgery is infrequently reported.

Observation:

• Five cases of unilateral SSNHL temporally related to non-otologic surgery are presented.
• Two cases followed open-heart surgery, consistent with hearing loss after cardiopulmonary bypass.
• Three non-cardiac surgical cases were also reviewed, with no specific intraoperative or postoperative cause identified.

Findings:

• The presented cases suggest a potential causal relationship between non-otologic surgery and SSNHL.
• No pre-existing otologic conditions were noted in the patients, ruling out predisposition.
• The exact mechanism linking surgery to SSNHL remains unclear.

Implications:

• This study highlights a rare but significant complication of non-otologic surgery.
• Early identification and treatment are recommended for SSNHL cases associated with cardiopulmonary bypass.
• Further case reports are encouraged to better understand and manage this phenomenon.