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Paul R. Lambert, MD; Roger A. Ruth, PhD; Chris F. Halpin, PhD

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1990;116(2):197-201.

Abstract
• Bilateral deafness can occur in patients with Meniere's disease who have undergone a labyrinthectomy in one ear. To investigate the feasibility of a cochlear implant in the labyrinthectomized ear, promontory electrical testing by transtympanic needle was performed in six patients who had undergone a unilateral transmastoid labyrinthectomy 6 weeks to 5 years previously. All patients had a behavioral response to the stimulus, and each described a different pitch percept with the four frequencies used. Five of the patients demonstrated an electrically evoked middle latency response. These data are comparable with behavioral and electrophysiologic responses from ears deafened by other causes and now successfully implanted. The results suggest that peripheral neural elements and central auditory pathways remain at least partially functional many years after a labyrinthectomy. Thus, a labyrinthectomy should not be withheld as a surgical option if otherwise indicated.

(Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1990;116:197-201)

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication September 19, 1989.

Presented in part at the annual meeting of the American Neuro-otology Society, San Francisco, Calif, April 1, 1989.

Reprint requests to Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Box 430, Charlottesville, VA 22908 (Dr Lambert).

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