Endolymphatic Sac Surgery for Ménière’s Disease – Current Opinion and Literature Review

The association of repeated attacks of vertigo that last for hours with a sense of aural fullness, fluctuating progressive hearing loss and tinnitus is characteristic of endolymphatic hydrops. In most cases, it is impossible to determine an etiology and a diagnosis of idiopathic endolymphatic hydrops, or Ménière’s disease, until it is established. The endolymphatic sac is thought to maintain the hydrostatic pressure and endolymphatic homeostasis for the inner ear and its dysfunction is thought to contribute to the pathophysiology of Ménière’s disease. Vertigo attributed to endolymphatic hydrops, whether idiopathic or secondary to a known etiology, is amenable to either medical or surgical treatment. Treatment is usually symptomatic with sedatives and antiemetics during the acute phase, and diuretics or vasodilators for chronic control. Steroids are also useful either when applied directly with