Investigation of Recurrent Perilymph Fistula

Abstract

Five patients underwent exploratory surgery for perilymph fistula between 1992 and 1999 at Showa University Hospital. Two patients were cured but one patient's symptoms continued after surgery. In two patients and another introductory patient, their symptons recurred after initial recovery.
Vertigo and unsteadiness were noticed in all patients 1 to 5 months after the first exploratory surgery, and hearing losses also deteriorated. Fistula tests were positive in all patients with recurrent symptons, two of whom exhibited no caloric response. Caloric irregularity was noted in one patient.
Re-explorations were performed for patients with recurrent symptons, and after these re-explorations, no patients experienced further vertiginous attacks or unsteadiness. Two patients showed normal caloric response after the re-explorations, however, hearing losses were not improved after the re-explorations.