title: Effects of endolymphatic sac decompression surgery on vertigo and hearing in patients with bilateral Ménière's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study, which involved a 2-year observation period and a nonsurgical control group, was to determine whether endolymphatic sac decompression surgery (ESDS) has the potential to prevent the progression of vertigo and hearing loss in patients with intractable bilateral Ménière's disease (MD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1996 and 2008, we subjected 67 patients with intractable bilateral MD to ESDS and local corticosteroid treatment. Another 34 patients with intractable bilateral MD who declined ESDS were treated with the best available medical therapies. All of the patients underwent regular follow-up examinations for at least 2 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vertigo was resolved in 22 of 34 patients in the non-ESDS group and 60 of 67 patients in the ESDS group (p = 0.055, Fisher's exact test). Of the 24 patients in the non-ESDS group and 55 patients in the ESDS group in whom the ipsilateral ear (the treated ear) exhibited worse hearing function than the contralateral ear, the hearing level of the former ear was preserved in 13 and 52 patients, respectively (p = 0.007, Fisher's exact test). Of the 10 patients in the nonsurgical group and 12 patients in the surgical group in whom the ipsilateral ear exhibited better hearing function than the contralateral ear, the hearing level of the former ear was preserved in 2 and 11 patients, respectively (p = 0.035, Fisher's exact test).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present findings suggest that ESDS combined with local corticosteroid treatment can control progressive hearing loss in both ears in patients with bilateral MD at least during the first 2 postoperative years.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Osaka University, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors: Tadashi
authors: T
authors: Kitahara
authors: Arata
authors: A
authors: Horii
authors: Takao
authors: T
authors: Imai
authors: Yumi
authors: Y
authors: Ohta
authors: Tetsuo
authors: T
authors: Morihana
authors: Hidenori
authors: H
authors: Inohara
authors: Masafumi
authors: M
authors: Sakagami
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D004712:Endolymphatic Sac / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014717:Vertigo / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*