Abstract
We have recently encountered two cases of intractable Meniere's disease with a history of head trauma. Both patients underwent surgical treatments because conservative medical treatment had failed. As we supposed that they had developed a secondary endolymphatic hydrops associated with perilymphatic fistula, we first performed a simple mastoidectomy and opened the facial recess to carry out an exploratory tympanotomy. Next, we performed endolymphatic sac drainage and closed both oval and round windows with connective tissue whether we found an obvious fistula or not. One year-follow-up results showed complete relief from vertigo after the operation in both cases. It is suggested that relative increase in the endolymph pressure can become a cause of endolymphatic hydrops due to the decline of the perilymph pressure. In patients with Meniere's disease who have a history of trauma, we propose that it should be better to keep in mind the possibility of fistula-induced secondary hydrops.
