Introduction:
For patients with end-stage Morbus Menière a sufficient suppression of vertigo symptoms as well as the auditory rehabilitation is a key factor to maintain a satisfying quality of life. If vertigo cannot be treated conservatively and the hearing loss is beyond the hearing aid indication, simultaneous labyrinthectomy and cochlear implantation may be a surgical option for these patients.
Methods:
The longterm follow-up includes five patients with unilateral Menière's disease and profound sensorineural hearing loss who underwent simultaneous labyrinthectomy and cochlear implantation in 2014. The longterm results regarding quality of life were evaluated by the Dizziness-Handicap-Inventory (DHI).
Results:
The longterm results show an increase in vertigo symptoms and recurrent vertigo. A significant increase is seen in all DHI subscores.
Conclusion:
The simultaneous labyrinthectomy and cochlear implantation in unilateral Menière's disease with profound sensorineural hearing loss is an invasive procedure to treat Menière's symptoms. The long term results show the importance of strict indication criteria to achieve a permanent benefit for the patients. Co-morbidities and the psychological constitution of the patient have to be considered before surgery. Hence the combined approach is limited to single cases only.
