Steroid and vasoactive treatment for acute deafness after attempted hearing preservation acoustic neuroma surgery

Objective: To investigate whether intravenous steroid and vasoactive therapy in the acute postoperative period improves hearing outcome in patients who develop acute deafness after attempted hearing preservation surgery for acoustic neuroma (AN) through a retrosigmoid or a middle cranial fossa approach. Study Design and Setting: Retrospective controlled study in a tertiary care center. Thirty-six patients who had developed acute deafness after hearing preservation surgery for treatment of an AN were reviewed. Preoperative AAOHNS hearing class was A in 2, B in 2 and D in 32 patients. Twenty-seven patients were treated with prednisolone, hydroxyethyl starch 3% and pentoxifylline intravenously for a period of at least 5 days. Nine patients (controls) did not receive any specific steroid or vasoactive therapy. Results: All patients in both groups remained deaf. Conclusions: Intravenous therapy with prednisolone, hydroxyethyl starch 3% and pentoxifylline in the acute postoperative period does not improve hearing in patients who develop acute deafness after attempted hearing preservation surgery for AN. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel.