OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy of endolymphatic sac drainage for Meniere disease.

METHODSThe efficacy of endolymphatic sac drainage for Meniere disease was retrospectively summed up in 26 patients in General Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army from March 1987 to September 2004. Of 26 patients, there were eighteen patients followed up more than two years after surgery.

RESULTSAccording to Chinese Meniere disease's diagnosis and curative effect standard evaluation criteria published in 1996, for vertigo symptom of these 18 patients, there were 9 cases (50%) with grade A (completely controlled), 8 cases (44.4%) with grade B (fundamentally controlled) and one case (5.6%) with grade D (not controlled). The vertigo fully controlled rate was only 50%, but the vertigo completely or fundamentally controlled rate reached 94.4%. Tinnitus of the patients after operation disappeared in 2 cases (11.1%), reduced in 9 case (50%) and unchanged in 7 cases (38.9%). Hearing post operation was improved in 6 cases (33.3%), unchanged obviously in 4 cases (22.2%) and decreased in 8 cases (44.5%).

CONCLUSIONSEndolymphatic sac drainage was an effective and safe management as well as with less complication for intractable Meniere's disease patients with residual hearing before operation.