Outcome-based assessment of endolymphatic sac decompression for Ménière's disease using the Ménière's disease outcome questionnaire: a review of 90 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the quality of life (QOL) of patients treated by endolymphatic sac decompression (ELSD) for Ménière's disease (MD) with a dedicated questionnaire, while recording the results of this surgery on vertigo attacks using the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery criteria.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case review in a tertiary referral care center.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ninety patients who have MD were treated by ELSD at our institution between 1986 and 2004. They were sent a 40-question Ménière's Disease QOL dedicated questionnaire (Ménière's Disease Outcome Questionnaire) concerning physical, mental, and social well-being. Five scores out of 100 were calculated (S1-S5): S3 for preoperative QOL score, S4 for postoperative QOL score, S5 for change in QOL score (S5 = S4 - S3), and S1 and S2 representing the answers to two other paired questions about the "overall" feeling of the patients. In parallel, results of ELSD on vertigo attacks and hearing were evaluated using the Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery criteria.

RESULTS: Fifty-nine interpretable answers (65.6%) to the Ménière's Disease Outcome Questionnaire were obtained from 28 men and 31 women (mean age, 56 yr and 9 mo), all suffering from "definite" MD. The mean S3 was 32.5 (range, 9.7-84.7), and the mean S4 was 60.8 (range, 0-98.6). Consecutively, S5 score was 28.3 (range, -34.7 to 77.4). QOL improved in 81.4% of cases with an average duration of follow-up of 57.5 months (range, 4-156 mo) (p < 0.001), worsened in 11.9% and was stable in 6.8%. There was no statistically significant difference as a function of sex (p = 0.7) or length of follow-up (p = 0.6). There was a significant correlation between S1 and S3 (p < 0.0001), and S2 and S4 (p < 0.0001), validating the whole questionnaire. In addition, 71% of satisfactory control of vertigo at 2 years postoperatively was noted. Hearing was improved or unchanged in 79% of cases at 3 months postoperatively.

CONCLUSION: These results show that ELSD significantly improves the health of patients. It represents a first-line procedure that preserves the vestibular and afferent structures, unlike vestibular neurotomy and chemical labyrinthectomy, which may be indicated as a second line.