[Acute unilateral deafness and contralateral hearing loss following inguinal hernia repair under controlled...

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Anesthesiology
• Neurosurgery

Background:

• Acute hearing loss is a rare complication of non-otologic surgery under general anesthesia.
• Anesthesia-associated deafness is more frequently reported with spinal anesthesia or cardiopulmonary bypass.
• This study focuses on a case of hearing impairment following a common surgical procedure.

Observation:

• A patient developed unilateral cochlear dysfunction and sensorineural hearing loss after an inguinal hernia operation.
• The hearing loss was sudden onset and confirmed via audiological evaluation.
• No otologic pre-existing conditions were noted in the patient.

Findings:

• The case presents a unique instance of sensorineural hearing loss attributed to general anesthesia during elective surgery.
• Review of existing literature suggests potential mechanisms linking anesthetic agents and surgical stress to cochlear damage.
• The specific anesthetic agents and duration of surgery are analyzed for their potential role.

Implications:

• This case highlights the importance of considering anesthesia as a potential cause of sudden hearing loss, even in non-otologic procedures.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise mechanisms and identify risk factors for hearing loss post-anesthesia.
• Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for hearing impairment in patients presenting with auditory symptoms after surgery.