Cryosurgical treatment of endolymphatic hydrops.

Cryosurgery of the labyrinth, as a treatment of endolymphatic hydrops, was initially greeted with considerable enthusiasm, but has lately received little publicity. That it still has a valuable role is demonstrated by this study of 69 patients who underwent labyrinthine cryosurgery over a 16 year period. Complete relief from vertigo has been achieved in 71 per cent of cases and morbidity has been minimized by the precautions outlined. The literature is reviewed to demonstrate the superiority of the transmastoid approach, the evolution of the technique and experimental evidence for the supposed mode of action.