Endolymphatic sac surgery

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Neurosurgery
• Vestibular Disorders

Background:

• Meniere's disease is a chronic inner ear disorder.
• Endolymphatic Sac Surgery (ESS) is a treatment option for Meniere's disease.
• Varied success rates reported in ESS literature necessitate further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the long-term efficacy of Endolymphatic Sac Surgery.
• To assess outcomes in vertigo control and cochlear function post-surgery.
• To determine the optimal timing for ESS in idiopathic endolymphatic hydrops.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of 66 patients undergoing Endolymphatic Sac Surgery.
• Long-term follow-up ranging from 24 months to 10 years.
• Assessment of vertigo symptom recurrence and changes in cochlear function.

Main Results:

• Only 55% of patients experienced long-term vertigo relief.
• Improvement in cochlear function was observed in only 30% of cases.
• A trend towards vertigo recurrence was noted with longer follow-up periods.

Conclusions:

• Endolymphatic Sac Surgery remains important for idiopathic endolymphatic hydrops.
• ESS may have questionable value early in the disease course.
• Total removal of the endolymphatic system is recommended for many Meniere's disease patients.