Endolymphatic subarachnoid shunt for Ménière's disease in the only hearing ear.

This report describes a series of 18 patients, deaf in one ear, upon whom an endolymphatic subarachnoid shunt procedure was performed on the remaining hearing ear affected by Ménière's disease. As with other patients with Ménière's disease, those whose problem involves their only hearing ear can have differing priorities and etiologies requiring variations in diagnosis and management. The preservation of hearing is of major consideration as is the need for thorough study and careful diagnosis in the determination of when to operate. Special surgical techniques that help minimize the risks from surgery are employed resulting in no patient's hearing being made worse by the surgery. Study results lead to the conclusion that the use of the endolymphatic subarachnoid shunt procedure early in the course of Ménière's disease in an only hearing ear can significantly reduce the risk of permanent hearing loss and disability.