Microvascular Decompression for Tinnitus / 한양의대학술지

ABSTRACT

Tinnitus had been considered a surgically incurable disease, given the failure of several treatment methods. Jannetta reported that tinnitus is one of the hyperactive diseases of the cranial nerve along with hemifacial spasm and trigeminal neuralgia (TGN). Microvascular decompression (MVD) of the eighth cranial nerve was introduced to treat medically intractable tinnitus. Intraoperative monitoring of brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) was able to reduce postoperative complication rates. Less than 1 ms of latency delay and a 40% decrease in amplitude of wave V of the brainstem evoked potential is a landmark of monitoring during surgery. Less than 6 years of duration of tinnitus, normal BAEP before surgery, no accompanying dizziness before surgery and a loop-type offending artery are effective factors for good surgical results of MVD.