Study of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in patients affected by Meniere's disease treated with endolymphatic mastoid shunt.

OBJECTIVES

We recorded and compared the vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) before use of an endolymphatic mastoid shunt (EMS) and 1, 12, and 48 months after placement of the shunt.

METHODS

Air-conducted VEMPs were recorded in 28 patients affected by intractable Meniere's disease and treated with placement of an EMS.

RESULTS

One month and 12 months after the surgery, VEMPs were not detectable in the operated ear in 100% and 86% of the patients, respectively. Forty-eight months after the surgery, they were elicited in 79% of the patients.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that VEMPs are a clinically useful tool in the postoperative follow-up of patients with an EMS.