Surgical management of Meniere's disease in the era of gentamicin

Vestibular and audiometric results after endolymphatic mastoid shunt surgery in patients with Menière's disease

PURPOSE

Treatment of Menière's Disease (MD) comprises an array of both non-destructive and destructive treatment options. In patients who are therapy-refractory to non-destructive medical treatment, endolymphatic mastoid shunt surgery (EMSS) is both recommended and debated controversially. The aim of this study was to investigate safety in terms of hearing, vestibular function, complication rate, and efficacy with regards to vertigo control of EMSS in patients with MD according to the current diagnostic criteria of 2015.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of 47 consecutive patients with definite or probable MD with description of demographic parameters, pre- and postoperative MD treatment, pre- and postoperative audiometric (pure tone audiometry) and vestibular (caloric testing) results. The parameters were compared between patients with and without postoperative vertigo control.

RESULTS

31/47 patients (66.0%) had improved vertigo control postoperatively. Postoperative hearing and vestibular preservation were predominantly stable. No significant differences between patients with improved vertigo control and patients with no change or worse vertigo episodes were found. In the treatment refractory group, 4 patients required a revision EMSS and 6 a destructive MD treatment (5 gentamicin intratympanically, 1 labyrinthectomy). No peri- or postsurgical complications were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

EMSS was found to be beneficial in two thirds of the patients with definite or probable Morbus Menière and a safe procedure regarding hearing and vestibular preservation with no postoperative complications. Therefore, EMSS should be considered before inducing destructive treatment options, such as intratympanic gentamicin application or labyrinthectomy.

Endolymphatic duct and sac decompression: A new technique for Ménière’s disease treatment

Background:

The present article aims to introduce the endolymphatic duct and sac decompression technique (DASD) and to give a spotlight on its benefits in Ménière’s disease (MD) treatment.

Methods:

Eighty-two patients with intractable MD which met the inclusion criteria were recruited and underwent DASD. This technique allows a meningeal decompression of the duct and the sac from the posterior cranial fossa to the labyrinthine block. The authors considered as main outcomes, the change of the dizziness handicap inventory (DHI) results, with the evaluations of the three sub-scales (Functional scale, Physical scale, and Emotional scale); ear fullness and tinnitus change on the perceptions of the patient; and hearing stage with four-Pure Tone Average (500 hz-1000 hz-2000 hz-4000 hz). The differences between the preoperative and the postoperative score were evaluated. A comparison with the literature was conducted.

Results:

After a 14-month follow-up, patients that underwent DASD reported a remarkable improvement of the symptoms in all three functional scales, confirmed by the total DHI. The difference between preoperative and postoperative scores is statistically significant. The data describe an ear fullness and tinnitus improvement. The multi-frequency tonal average before and after the surgery does not suggest a worsening of the value for any of 82 patients.

Conclusion:

The modification of sac surgery includes the endolymphatic duct in the decompression area allowing inner ear functional improvement, vertigo control, ear fullness improvement with minimal risk of facial nerve paralysis, and hearing loss. DASD is an improved old surgical technique.

Triple Canal Occlusion for the Treatment of Intractable Menière's Disease

OBJECTIVE

Menière's disease can be a debilitating condition but in most cases the symptoms are controlled by lifestyle changes and medical management. However, some patients remain symptomatic despite medical treatment and have the option of more invasive surgical treatments. Surgical intervention for Menière's includes a range of interventions from grommet insertion, intratympanic steroids/Gentamicin, endolymphatic sac decompression, labyrinthectomy, and vestibular neurectomy. A recently described technique involves the occlusion of all three semi-circular canals as an alternative in intractable Menière's disease.

STUDY DESIGN

This is a case series of three patients who underwent triple canal occlusion for the treatment of intractable Menière's disease.

SETTING

Patients were selected from those who were referred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, a tertiary referral center.

PATIENTS

Patients who were severely symptomatic despite medical treatment who were considering ablative therapy were offered the option of triple canal occlusion as an alternative.

INTERVENTION

We report a series of Menière's patients treated by triple canal occlusion, describe the rationale behind this intervention, the surgical technique, and preliminary results.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Each patient was followed up for a minimum of 2 years following the procedure. The main outcomes measures were the class of vertigo control and hearing threshold levels according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery guidelines.

RESULTS

Of the three patients, two were men and one was woman, the age range was 45 years to 61 years old. Two patients with unilateral disease achieved class A control whereas one patient with bilateral disease achieved class B control. Two patients who underwent the procedure had little or no effect to their hearing on the treated side however one patient suffered a 30 dB hearing loss on the operative side.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on our limited experience and the early reports in the literature we consider that there are potential patient benefits for triple canal occlusion for intractable Menière's disease as an alternative to vestibular neurectomy due to the reduced morbidity and long-term efficacy.

Transmastoid Labyrinthectomy for Menière's Disease: Experience and Outcomes

OBJECTIVE

To characterize presurgical symptoms and treatment history and postoperative course in patients with medically recalcitrant Menière's disease undergoing transmastoid labyrinthectomy in the post-intratympanic gentamicin era.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective case series.

SETTING

Tertiary academic medical center.

PATIENTS

All patients who underwent transmastoid labyrinthectomy for medically recalcitrant Menière's disease in 2003 to 2019 by the senior author.

INTERVENTIONS

Review of patients' medical records for: preoperative history of drop attacks, gentamicin injections, endolymphatic sac decompression or vestibular neurectomy, preoperative audiograms, length of hospital stay, postoperative complications, and persistent symptoms or challenging recovery.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Presurgical clinical history and proximal postoperative outcomes.

RESULTS

Seventy-two patients with a mean age of 56.7 (standard deviation [SD] 10.7) were included. All cases were unilateral. Forty-three patients (59.7%) suffered from drop attacks. Sixty-two (86.1%) had failed sufficient symptom control with gentamicin injections. The mean preoperative word recognition score was 36.4% (SD 23.7) versus 95.1% (SD 8.5) in the contralateral ear. The mean pure-tone average (PTA) of the ipsilateral ear before surgery was 65.5 dB (SD 18.0) versus 16.2 (SD 13.5) for the contralateral ear. Mean hospital stay was 2.0 days (SD 0.87 days, range of 1-5 d). Three patients (4.2%) had prolonged postoperative vertigo.

CONCLUSIONS

Transmastoid labyrinthectomy at our center is performed for unilateral Menière's disease, generally when intratympanic gentamicin has failed. A majority of surgical patients suffer from drop attacks preoperatively. Hospital stay is typically brief.

Translabyrinthine vestibular neurectomy and simultaneous cochlear implant for Ménière's disease

BACKGROUND

Surgical management of Ménière's disease (MD) is recommended in case of medical and intratympanic treatment failures. Translabyrinthine vestibular nerve section has been considered the gold standard for denervation procedures in order to control vertigo attacks, although at the cost of sacrificing residual hearing. To the best of our knowledge, no work has been published with regard to a group of patients submitted to translabyrinthine vestibular neurectomy and simultaneous cochlear implant for MD. The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of translabyrinthine vestibular nerve section and simultaneous cochlear implant in a prospective study.

METHODS

All adult patients (over 18 years of age) with a diagnosis of intractable unilateral definite MD and useless residual hearing function were enrolled after medical and intratympanic treatment failures. Pre- and postoperative otoneurological evaluation concerned: frequency of vertigo attacks, head impulse test and caloric testing, pure tone average and speech perception audiometry in quiet conditions, tinnitus handicap inventory test, functional level scale and rate of vertigo control, dizziness handicap inventory test, and MD patient-oriented severity index. At least 6 months of follow-up were needed to be enrolled in the study.

RESULTS

Four patients were included in the study. Translabyrinthine vestibular nerve section and simultaneous cochlear implant seemed to considerably improve the disabling effects of MD, achieving a good control of vestibular symptoms (mean pre/postoperative vertigo attacks per month: 16.5/0), resolving hearing loss (mean pre/postoperative pure tone average in the affected ear: 86.2/32.5 dB), improving the tinnitus (mean pre/postoperative tinnitus handicap inventory test: 77.2/6), and finally increasing the overall quality-of-life parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

In our preliminary report, translabyrinthine vestibular nerve section and simultaneous cochlear implant showed encouraging results in order to definitively control both vestibular and cochlear symptoms during the same therapeutic procedure.

Surgery for vertigo: 10-year audit from a contemporary vertigo clinic

OBJECTIVE

To present the profile of patients undergoing surgical treatment for vertigo at a contemporary institutional vertigo clinic.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective analysis of clinical charts.

METHODS

The charts of 1060 patients, referred to an institutional vertigo clinic from January 2003 to December 2012, were studied. The clinical profile and long-term outcomes of patients who underwent surgery were analysed.

RESULTS

Of 1060 patients, 12 (1.13 per cent) were managed surgically. Of these, disease-modifying surgical procedures included perilymphatic fistula repair (n = 7) and microvascular decompression of the vestibular nerve (n = 1). Labyrinth destructive procedures included transmastoid labyrinthectomy (n = 2) and labyrinthectomy with vestibular nerve section (n = 1). One patient with vestibular schwannoma underwent both a disease-modifying and destructive procedure (translabyrinthine excision). All patients achieved excellent vertigo control, classified as per the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery 1995 criteria.

CONCLUSION

With the advent of intratympanic treatments, surgical treatments for vertigo have become further limited. However, surgery with directed intent, in select patients, can give excellent results.

Endolymphatic sac surgery for Ménière's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To analyze current endolymphatic surgery techniques and quantify their efficacy in controlling vertigo and maintaining hearing in the short and long term.

DATA SOURCES

A comprehensive literature search using the PubMed-NCBI database from 1970 to 2013.

STUDY SELECTION

Articles on sac decompression and mastoid shunt (with and without silastic) were included. Included studies had to report data using the 1985 or 1995 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Foundation (AAO-HNS) guidelines, describe surgical technique in detail, include a minimum of 10 patients, and have minimum 12 months of follow-up.

DATA EXTRACTION

Endpoints were vertigo control and hearing preservation using AAO-HNS guidelines. Analysis included short-term (>12 mo) and long-term (>24 mo) follow-up.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Data analysis was performed using MedCalc 12.7.0. Each article was weighted according to the number of patients treated. Analysis of pooled proportion was performed, and Freeman-Tukey transformation was used to correct for probable variance. A t test (of proportions) was performed to compare differences between groups.

CONCLUSION

Endolymphatic sac surgery (sac decompression or mastoid shunt) is effective at controlling vertigo in the short term (>1 yr of follow-up) and long term (>24 mo) in at least 75% of patients with Ménière's disease who have failed medical therapy. Sac decompression and mastoid shunting techniques provide similar vertigo control rates. Mastoid shunting, with and without silastic, also provides similar vertigo control rates. Non-use of silastic, however, seems to maintain stable or improved hearing in more patients compared to silastic sheet placement. The data suggest that, once the sac is opened, placing silastic does not add benefit and may be deleterious.

Intratympanic gentamicin: a 1-day protocol treatment for unilateral Meniere's disease

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to assess the usefulness of low-dose intratympanic gentamicin administration in patients with Meniere's disease (MD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We carried out a retrospective review of the charts of 55 patients with definite MD in accordance with the AAO-HNS (American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery) Diagnostic Scale who were treated at Gruppo Otologico (Piacenza, Rome, Italy). The treatment protocol consisted of 3 intratympanic injections of gentamicin at a 12-hour interval between each administration.

RESULTS

Results were resumed in accordance with AAO-HNS criteria and showed complete control of vertigo spells in 60% (class A), good control in 16% (class B), moderate control in 4% (class C), poor control in 16% (class D), and no control in 4% (class E) of the patients. Audiological assessment showed unchanged thresholds in 61%, improvement in 22%, and worsening in 17% of the cases.

CONCLUSION

Administration of gentamicin is a good alternative to medical and surgical procedures in the treatment of intractable MD. One-day treatment allows for adequate control of vertigo attacks without compromising hearing and quality of life and with reduced costs.