A review of endolymphatic sac-related surgeries and their possible mechanisms

Abstract

Endolymphatic sac-related surgeries are a series of effective procedures to treat patients with Ménière's disease. However, there is controversy since they were proposed in 1927. Although most studies have shown the effectiveness of endolymphatic decompression and endolymphatic shunting, the mechanisms of them are still unclear. Some studies suggested that these procedures work because the endolymphatic hydrops relieves after surgery. However, the new one proposed recently, endolymphatic duct blockage, seems to contradict to the relief theory. Therefore, this article reviewed the mechanisms of endolymphatic hydrops and the development of a series of sac surgeries to better understand the possible mechanisms of sac surgeries.