Contralateral sensorineural hearing loss after vestibular schwannoma surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Contralateral sensorineural hearing loss (CSNHL) after vestibular schwannoma (VS) is a severe complication, especially in those cases in which hearing preservation in the operated side was not possible. There are several theories that attempt to explain this issue, but there is no established guideline of treatment.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: We report 4 patients treated in our institution who developed a severe CSNHL after surgery.

RESULTS: Of the 185 cases of VS treated with surgery, 4 patients (2.2%) developed a CSNHL after VS surgery. After medical treatment, partial recovery of hearing occurred in one patient the other 3 patients presented a well-established severe SNHL.

CONCLUSIONS: Established treatment guidelines do not exist, but the use of high doses of corticosteroids has been recommended and cochlear implant in cases with no recovery and complete hearing loss may be useful.