Endolymphatic duct blockage: quality of life assessment of a novel surgical technique for Ménière disease

• Published in: European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology Vol. 273; no. 10; pp. 2965 - 2973
• Main Authors: Gabra, Nathalie, Asmar, Marc-Henri, Berbiche, Djamal, Saliba, Issam
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.10.2016
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Decompression, Surgical - methods; Endolymphatic Duct - surgery; Female; Head and Neck Surgery; Humans; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Meniere Disease - psychology; Meniere Disease - surgery; Middle Aged; Neurosurgery; Otologic Surgical Procedures - methods; Otology; Otorhinolaryngology; Quality of Life; Retrospective Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; Endolymphatic sac; Ménière’s disease; Endolymphatic duct; Decompression; Tinnitus; Ear fullness; Vertigo; Quality of life; QOL; Hearing loss
• ISSN: 0937-4477; 1434-4726
• DOI: 10.1007/s00405-015-3890-4

The aim of this study is to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) of patients treated by endolymphatic duct blockage (EDB) for Ménière’s disease with a dedicated questionnaire. This is a retrospective cross-sectional study which included 54 patients diagnosed with severe, refractory Ménière’s disease according to the AAO-HNS criteria and treated with EDB between 2010 and 2013. Answers to the first 38 questions have assigned scores from 0 to 4 (0 corresponding to the poorest QOL). A preoperative score called S1 was calculated as follows: S1 = sum of preoperative question scores/maximum possible preoperative score ×100. The same formula was used to calculate the postoperative score S2. The change in QOL score, S3, was then calculated (S3 = S2−S1). All answers were analyzed anonymously. Statistical analysis was done using Student t test and Chi square test. A response rate of 89 % was obtained with the Ménière’s disease outcome questionnaire. The preoperative (S1) score was 21.4 (±12.6) and the postoperative score (S2) was 64.6 (±21.6) with a change in QOL (S3) of 43.3 ( p  < 0.001). Postoperatively, 89.9 % reported no Ménière’s attacks ( p  < 0.001). Seventy-nine percent (15/19) of the questions showed a significant improvement after surgery. These results show that EDB is associated with a significant improvement of the QOL of patients suffering from severe Ménière’s disease.