Endolymphatic sac surgery.

There is a disturbing variation in the reported success rate in Endolymphatic Sac Surgery in the literature. Relatively long-term (24 months to 10 years) follow-ups are given in a series of 66 patients in this paper. Results reveal only a 55% long-term relief of vertigo in these patients. Only 30% of this series of cases had any improvement in cochlear function. There was a definite trend towards recurrence of vertigo in the longer follow-up cases. It is concluded that Endolymphatic Sac Surgery still is important in the treatment of idiopathic endolymphatic hydrops, but is of questionable value early in the course of the disease. Total removal of the endolymphatic system remains the best single surgical approach in a large number of patients with Ménièr's disease.