title: Endolymphatic sac surgery for Meniere's disease: a composite study of 339 cases.
abstract: This paper analyzes 339 consecutively performed endolymphatic mastoid sac shunts. Regardless of the method used, vertigo was controlled and hearing either improved or stabilized in approximately 70% of the cases. Overall, vertigo was controlled in approximately 80% of the cases. Similar results were obtained in cases of Meniere's syndrome and vestibular Meniere's disease. It is suggested here that, regardless of the method employed, there remains a high likelihood that the symptoms will recur, and the question is raised as to whether sac surgery may merely induce a temporary remission of the disease process. Consequently, it is hereby proposed that there is a need to devise a method to permanently drain the endolymph in order to more effectively control the disease on a permanent basis. Until this is achieved, however, sac surgery would appear to be the most appropriate surgical treatment for Meniere's disease.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000601:surgery*; D004710:Endolymph / Q000502:physiology; D004712:Endolymphatic Sac / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery