What is endolymphatic shunt surgery?
Endolymphatic sac (ES) shunt surgery is a treatment for medically refractory disabling vertigo in Meniere disease, which is an inner ear disorder that features the symptomatic tetrad of episodic vertigo, aural fullness, fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss, and tinnitus.
How long is an endolymphatic sac surgery?
Your doctor will remove a small amount of bone and cut a hole in the outer layer of the sac. A shunt will be placed in the sac to allow the ear to drain when fluid reforms. The incision will then be stitched closed. The procedure takes approximately 60 to 90 minutes.
Where does an endolymphatic shunt drain?
Endolymphatic shunt placement drains excess inner ear fluid (endolymph) from the inner ear. It is believed that Meniere’s disease is due to periods of increased fluid pressure in the inner ear. The endolymphatic shunt procedure is performed under general anesthesia with an operative time of approximately one hour.
Is endolymphatic sac surgery beneficial for Meniere’s disease?
Conclusions. Endolymphatic sac surgery is an effective surgical intervention for Meniere’s disease with and without migraine.
What happens after endolymphatic sac decompression surgery?
After surgery, you may experience pain. Talk to your doctor if over-the-counter medications are not effective in relieving your pain. Most patients return to work the day after surgery. Your hearing will gradually improve over the course of a few weeks and eventually return to normal.
What does the endolymphatic sac do?
The main functions ascribed to the endolymphatic sac are the regulation of the volume and pressure of endolymph, the immune response of the inner ear, and the elimination of endolymphatic waste products by phagocytosis.
What is an endolymphatic shunt made of?
An endolymphatic shunt is a silicone tube that drains fluid from the inner ear. Endolymphatic shunt placement is a surgical procedure that involves implanting a small silicone tube in the inner ear to drain excess fluid.
What is the best surgery for Meniere’s disease?
A labyrinthectomy is a surgical procedure which destroys both the hearing and vestibular functions of the inner ear. It is performed either by drilling out the bone and removing all of the labyrinth (known as an osseous labyrinthectomy), or by opening up the inner ear and destroying some of the soft tissue within it.
How is endolymphatic sac surgery done?
During the procedure, your doctor will make an incision behind the ear and open the mastoid bone. The bone will be removed to reveal the endolymphatic sac. The bone is then removed from the sac and a laser will cut a hole in the outer layer of the sac. A shunt will be inserted into the sac.