Comparative Study of Endolymphatic Sac Decompression and Vestibular Neurectomy in Intractable Meniere's Disease

Endolymphatic sac decompression effect on secondary symptoms of Meniere's disease

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate if endolymphatic sac decompression (ESD) significantly improves secondary symptoms of Meniere's disease including tinnitus and aural fullness.

STUDY DESIGN

Survey study with retrospective chart review.

SETTING

Tertiary care center.

METHODS

Survey of adult patients with Meniere's disease that underwent primary ESD surgery from 2015 to 2020. Subjective reporting of pre- and postoperative aural fullness and tinnitus based on postoperative survey. Survey results and audiologic data of the patients that reported were compared pre- and postoperatively.

RESULTS

Statistical analysis was performed using weighted kappa statistics to examine the level of agreement. There was a value of 0.12 for pre- and postoperative aural fullness, indicating a difference in the two groups with 77 % having improvement and only 4 % having worsening. There was a value of 0.21 for pre- and postoperative tinnitus, demonstrating a lack of agreement with 58 % having improvement and 4 % having worsening. Overall, there was significant improvement in both tinnitus and aural fullness postoperatively. There was no significant difference in word recognition score, speech reception threshold, or pure tone average between the pre- and postoperative group based on paired t-test.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a significant improvement in both aural fullness and tinnitus for patients undergoing ESD with no negative effect on audiologic status. ESD is a viable option for treatment of Meniere's disease with vertigo, aural fullness, and tinnitus relief. Future prospective studies are needed to further improve the evidence of ESD's effect on secondary symptoms of Meniere's disease.

Anatomical Factors Influencing Selective Vestibular Neurectomy: A Comparison of Posterior Fossa Approaches

Objectives To identify measurable anatomical factors that may guide the surgical approach for posterior fossa selective vestibular neurectomy (SVN) and predict identification of the vestibulocochlear cleavage (VCC) plane. Study Design Dissection of fixed cadaveric heads through retrolabyrinthine and retrosigmoid-internal auditory canal (RSG-IAC) approaches with measurement of landmarks. Setting Cadaveric dissection model. Main Outcome Measures Area of the Trautmann triangle (TT) and the distance from the posterior semicircular canal to the anterior border of the sigmoid along the posterior Donaldson line (pDL). VCC planes from each approach were calculated and compared. Results Overall mean pDL was 8.53 mm (range: 5-11.5 mm); mean TT area was 124 mm(2) (range: 95-237 mm(2)). The VCC was identified in 63% of ears through the retrolabyrinthine (RVN) approach alone, whereas 37% of ears required the RSG-IAC approach. In ears requiring IAC dissection, the VCC was found within 1 to 2 mm distal to the porus. The pDL (p < 0.05) and area of TT (p < 0.05) were significantly larger in the RVN group compared with the RSG-IAC group. Conclusion Ears amenable to the RVN approach had a greater pDL and TT area. These anatomical measurements may have a role in surgical planning and the choice of approach for SVN.