Quality-of-life assessment of Ménière's disease patients after surgical labyrinthectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the impact of surgical labyrinthectomy on quality of life of Ménière's disease patients.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
Otology subspecialty referral center.


METHODS
All patients with Ménière's disease who underwent surgical labyrinthectomy between 1998 and 2004 were selected. Fifty-three patients satisfied inclusion criteria. Completed questionnaires were obtained from 44 patients.


METHODS
The Ménière's Disease Outcomes Questionnaire is a disease-specific quality-of-life questionnaire. It was used to assess the quality of life of patients before and after surgical labyrinthectomy. The questionnaire encompasses physical, mental, and social well-being domains of quality of life.


METHODS
Change in total quality-of-life score was used to assess the overall impact of surgical labyrinthectomy on subjective patient outcome. Individual quality-of-life domains were also assessed.


RESULTS
Forty-three of 44 respondents (98%) had improvement in total score after surgery. The one patient who demonstrated deterioration developed latent contralateral disease. Average preoperative and postoperative scores were 34 +/- 14 and 67 +/- 15, respectively (p < 0.001). All questions showed significant improvement with surgery (p < 0.001) except questions pertaining to memory (no change) and hearing loss (nonsignificant decrease in score).


CONCLUSIONS
This study comprises the first patient-directed assessment of quality-of-life outcomes in Ménière's disease patients after labyrinthectomy. Despite the disadvantage of hearing loss, patients consistently reported significant improvement in all quality-of-life domains and do not report a significant loss of quality of life in terms of their hearing loss. Surgical labyrinthectomy remains a highly effective treatment for Ménière's disease patients.
Diaz
Rodney C
RC
Michigan Ear Institute, Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334, USA. rodneydiaz1@mac.com
LaRouere
Michael J
MJ
Bojrab
Dennis I
DI
Zappia
John J
JJ
Sargent
Eric W
EW
Shaia
Wayne T
WT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003710:Demography; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome