Development of autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss after endolymphatic sac decompression: two case reports.

OBJECTIVE

To present two case reports that the authors believe demonstrate the creation of autoimmune hearing loss in a healthy ear in response to endolymphatic sac surgery in an opposite ear felt to be afflicted with Ménière's Disease. In both cases, unexpected trama was incurred in performing the original surgery for endolymphatic sac decompression.

STUDY

DESIGN

Two case reports.

SETTING

Ambulatory office and hospital in a tertiary referral center.

PATIENTS: Two patients selected for their unique development of autoimmunity in the ear that was not operated on.

INTERVENTIONS: Surgical intervention (endolymphatic sac surgery) for Ménière's Disease.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Audiometry and clinical assessment.

RESULTS

Audiometric results of two patients believed to have developed autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss as the result of surgical trauma delivered to the patient's opposite ear.

CONCLUSION

It is believed that the two patients presented developed autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss in an opposite nonsurgical ear in response to surgical intervention (believed to be traumatic) in their original Ménière's Disease ear.