Perilymph fistula: the Stanford experience.

Seventy-eight tympanotomies were performed to determine the presence of perilymph fistulas (PLFs); of these, 51% were found. The oval and round windows of all patients were grafted, whether PLFs were present or not. Of those patients with PLFs, 64% had resolution of their major symptom; when no PLF was found, 44% had a similar outcome. We concluded that 1) PLFs often behave as if they are epiphenomena in relation to hearing and balance, 2) PLFs can be intermittent, 3) PLF surgery is disappointing for restoration of hearing in sudden hearing loss when compared to the rate of spontaneous recovery, 4) stabilizing a fluctuating or progressive loss is a more realistic goal, and 5) establishing preoperative criteria for exploration is still a problem.