RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Pneumolabyrinth: a rare complication of stapes surgery
JF BMJ Case Reports
JO BMJ Case Reports
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP e232190
DO 10.1136/bcr-2019-232190
VO 12
IS 11
A1 Patricia S Gomes
A1 Sergio Caselhos
A1 Ana Teresa Vide
A1 Rui Fonseca
YR 2019
UL http://casereports.bmj.com/content/12/11/e232190.abstract
AB Pneumolabyrinth is the entrapment of air within the inner ear and is a rare complication of stapes surgery. We report the case of a patient submitted to stapedectomy who, 4 weeks later, suddenly developed right hearing loss, ipsilateral tinnitus and vertigo. On the physical examination, the patient showed no signs of vestibular deficits. Audiometry was compatible with right profound mixed hearing loss and high-resolution CT of the temporal bone revealed the presence of pneumolabyrinth. During exploratory tympanotomy, the prosthesis was found dislodged; the communication between the middle and inner ear was closed with vein graft and a new prosthesis was placed. Following surgery, vestibular symptoms was abolished and the patient experienced great improvement of the hearing thresholds.