Abstract

Endolymphatic sac decompression (ESD) is indicated in intractable Meniere’s disease patients with serviceable hearing. A 43-year-old man presented with recurrent vertigo and fluctuating right hearing loss that had been intractable to medical treatment. ESD was performed for the purpose of vertigo control with hearing preservation. Positional vertigo with profound hearing loss developed immediate after surgery and positional vertigo was resolved within days. Following paralytic vestibulopathy with positive sign on head thrust test also resolved after 2 weeks, while sensorineural hearing loss was not recovered to preoperative level during 1 year of follow up. Recurrent vertigo attacks were developed again 1 year after the operation. Hearing preservation was not always guaranteed in ESD. Furthermore, chance of hearing loss should be included in informed consent though the procedure is purposed for hearing preservation.

• Keywords: Meniere disease;Endolymphatic sac;Surgery;Hearing loss, sensorineural