[Acoustic neuroma surgery. Results and complications in 348 cases].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate post-operative complications after acoustic neuroma surgery.


METHODS
This was a retrospective study of 348 patients, who had acoustic neuroma surgery between 1984 and 1999. Symptoms, pre-operative evaluation, surgery and post-operative complications were analysed.


RESULTS
174 men and 174 women had an operation. Mean age was 51.8 years (11-78). 31 patients had a grade I tumour, 106 a grade II, 71 a grade III and 140 had a grade IV tumour. 195 patients have been operated through the translabyrinthine approach, 110 through the retrolabyrinthine approach, 42 through the sub-occipital approach, and one through the transcochlear approach. Mortality was 0.85%, 59.2% patients had a post-operative facial paralysis. Most of patients had post-operative dizziness, and 30% still had vestibular disturbances after one year. 9 patients (2.6%) had a cerebrospinal rhinorrhea and 24 patients had a cerebrospinal wound leak (6.9%). 22 patients had post-operative meningitis (6.3%). 2 patients had a cerebello pontine angle haemorrhage, and 3 patients had a brain stem infarct.


CONCLUSIONS
Transpetrous approaches are safe for acoustic neuroma removal and the post-operative complication rate is low. The retrolabyrinthine approach seems to be a good hearing preservative approach, regardless of tumour volume.
Enée
V
V
CHU de Strasbourg Ancienne Interne des Hêpitaux de Bordeaux, clinique en ORL Audiophonologie, 1 Avenue Molière, F-67098 Strasbourg, France.
Guérin
J
J
Bébéar
J P
JP
Darrouzet
V
V
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000098:blood supply*; D002530:Cerebellopontine Angle; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D002559:Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D004244:Dizziness / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index