Sensorineural hearing loss associated with aortocoronary bypass surgery: a prospective analysis

A prospective, clinical study was undertaken to assess the relationship between aortocoronary bypass surgery (ACBS) and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Between August 1, 1988 and July 31, 1989, 1458 patients underwent ACBS and 181 volunteers were entered into the study based on availability and capability to complete preoperative and postoperative questionnaires and audiometric testing. One hundred forty-five patients completed the study. Intraoperative audiant brainstem response (ABR) testing was performed on 7 patients with essentially normal hearing. Although 4 patients (2.8%) reported a subjective change in hearing on postoperative questionnaires, objective testing did not confirm a significant hearing change in pure-tone, speech discrimination, or speech reception threshold testing. Acute or sudden SNHL within 2 weeks following ACBS was not identified in any patient completing the study. This study did not provide evidence to support a causal relationship between SNHL and ACBS. However, if SNHL does occur following ACBS, the well-established etiology of ototoxic therapy and subsequent SNHL demands exclusion in the absence of conflicting histopathologic information.