Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dlnhk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T01:48:40.403Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Hearing loss after general anaesthesia

A case report and review of literature

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

Max Hochermann*
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Lund, Malmö General Hospital, S-214 01 Malmö, Sweden
Åke Reimer
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Lund, Malmö General Hospital, S-214 01 Malmö, Sweden
*
Åke Reimer, M.D., Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, University of Lund, Malmö General Hospital, S-214 01 Malmo, Sweden.

Abstract

Unilateral hearing loss has been reported as an unusual complication in general anaesthesia, and so far no reports on bilateral hearing loss have been published. In this paper we present a case with bilateral sensorineural hearing impairment immediately following a minor abdominal surgical procedure. The literature is reviewed and the mechanisms causing hearing loss during anaesthesia are discussed.

Type
Clinical Records
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1987

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Arenberg, I. K., Allen, G. W. and DeBoer, A. (1972) Sudden deafness immediately following cardiopulmonary bypass. Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 86: 7376.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brownson, R. J., Stroud, M. H. and Carver, W. F. (1971) Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary bypass and hearing. Archives of Otolaryngology, 93: 179182.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Davis, I., Moore, J. R. M. and Lahiri, S. K. (1979) Nitrous oxide and the middle ear. Anaesthesia, 34: 147151.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Friedman, S. I. and Sasaki, C. T. (1975) Hearing loss during resuscitation. Archives of Otolaryngology, 101: 385386.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Goodhill, V. (1971) Sudden deafness and round window rupture. Laryngoscope, 81; 14621474.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Goodhill, V., Harris, I., Brockman, S. J. and Hantz, O. (1973) Sudden deafness and labyrithine window rupture. Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology, 82: 212.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jaffe, B. F. (1967) Sudden deafness. An otologic emergency. Archives of Otolaryngology, 86: 5560.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Man, A., Segal, S. and Ezra, S. (1980) Ear injury caused by elevated intratympanic pressure during general anaesthesia. Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavia, 24: 224226.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Matz, G. J., Rattenborg, C. G. and Holaday, D. A. (1967) Effects of nitrous oxide on middle ear pressure. Anesthesiology, 28: 948950.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Millen, S. J., Toohill, R. J. and Lehman, R. H. (1982) Sudden sensorineural hearing loss: Operative complication in non-otologic surgery. Laryngoscope, 92; 613617.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Patterson, M. E. and Bartlett, P. C. (1976) Hearing impairment caused by intratympanic pressure changes during general anaesthesia. Laryngoscope, 86: 399404.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Perreault, L., Normandin, N., Plamondon, L., Blain, R., Rousseau, P., Girard, M. and Forget, G. (1982) Middle ear pressure variations during nitrous oxide and oxygen anaesthesia. Canadian Anaesthetists' Society Journal, 29: 428434.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Plasse, H. M., Spencer, F. C., Mittleman, M. and Frost, J. O. (1980) Unilateral sudden loss of hearing. An unusual complication of cardiac operation. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 79: 822826.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Plasse, H. M., Mittleman, M. and Frost, J. O. (1981) Unilateral sudden hearing loss after open heart surgery: A detailed study of seven cases. Laryngoscope, 91: 101109.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Segal, S., Man, A. and Winerman, I. (1984) Labyrinthine membrane rupture caused by elevated intratympanic pressure during general anaesthesia. American Journal of Otology, 5: 308310.Google Scholar
Shapiro, M. J., Purn, J. M. and Raskin, C. (1981) A study of the effects of cardiopulmonary bypass surgery on auditory function. Laryngoscope, 91: 20462052.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thomsen, K. A., Terkildsen, K. and Arnfred, I. (1965) Middle ear pressure variations during anaesthesia. Archives of Otolaryngology, 82; 609611.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tomkin, J. P. and Fagan, P. (1975) Rupture of the round window membrane. Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 89: 733756.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Waun, J. E., Sweitzer, R. S. and Hamilton, W. K. (1967) Effect of nitrous oxide on middle ear mechanics and hearing activity. Anesthesiology, 28: 846850.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wright, J. L. W. and Saunders, S. H. (1975) Sudden deafness following cardio-pulmonary bypass surgery. Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 89: 757759.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed