Endolymphatic-mastoid shunt operation: results of the 24 cases and revision surgery with the silastic sheet.

Endolymphatic-mastoid shunt operation due to Kitahara's method was performed on 24 patients with Meniere's disease. In 14 patients, the vertiginous attack was controlled with satisfactory preservation of hearing for longer than one year. In 2 patients, the vertiginous attack subsided but the hearing worsened. In the remaining 8 patients, long-term control of the vertiginous attack was not attained. Of these 8 recurrent cases, revision was performed on 4, revealing shunt obstruction with granulation or scar tissue. After reopening the endolymphatic sac, a large triangular Silastic sheet was placed into its lumen. The vertiginous attack was controlled thus far in the revised cases using this procedure.