title: NaCl deposition in the vestibule: a simple, safe, and effective method of cochleovestibular deafferentation.
abstract: Chemical cochleovestibular deafferentation was performed on 21 individuals suffering from disabling vertigo caused by unilateral Menière's disease. Patients ranged in age from 31 to 60 years, with a mean age of 47.4. The duration of the disease spanned 3 to 14 years, mean duration being 5.8 years. Subjects displayed pure-tone thresholds higher than 50 dB HL in the affected ear and better than 25 dB HL in the contralateral ear. The frequency of vertigo, evaluated during the 6 months before surgery, ranged from 1 crisis a month to 2 a week; mean duration of crises was 1 to 6 hours. Medical treatment had failed in all cases. The surgical procedure consisted of stapedectomy, deposition of several crystals of NaCl in the vestibule, and sealing of the oval window with a vein graft. Postoperative recovery was rapid, allowing patients to be discharged 4 to 6 days after surgery. All subjects reported complete relief of vertigo. Tinnitus disappeared in 47.6% of the subjects, was reduced in 33.3% and unchanged in 19.1%. Most patients complaining of aural fullness preoperatively reported relief of this symptom after surgery. The outcomes of the present study indicate that NaCl deposition into the vestibule is a simple, safe, and effective technique of cochleovestibular deafferentation.
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, University of Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Colletti
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Fiorino
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sittoni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003051:Cochlea / Q000294:innervation*; D003714:Denervation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014717:Vertigo / Q000628:therapy; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000294:innervation*
chemical_list: D012965:Sodium Chloride