Is endolymphatic sac surgery an efficient treatment of Menière's disease patients? A systematic literature search and meta-analysis

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this work is to assess the treatment efficiency of endolymphatic sac surgery in patients with Menière's disease. Methods This study provides a systematic literature review and meta-analysis based on the guidelines of the Cochrane Collaboration and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses protocol. The main inclusion criteria of the literature review were the classification categories according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery guidelines of 1985 and 1995. Results An effect of 9.25 dB postoperative weighted average hearing loss in surgically treated individuals is classified as "clinically not significant" according to American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 85/95. In contrast, the deterioration by 26.23% in speech comprehension is considered as "clinically significant." An improvement of functional level scale assessment by two categories and vertigo control by assessment in category B can be observed. Conclusion The findings of this meta-analysis indicate that endolymphatic sac surgery may be beneficial as a treatment for Menière's disease in terms of a positive impact on functional level scale and vertigo control while yielding a negative impact on pure tone average hearing loss and on speech comprehension.