Endolymphatic Hydrops after Total Dissection or Cauterization of the Distal Portion of the Endolymphatic Sac

In this study, a more subtle animal model of Menière's disease is investigated by damaging the distal portion of the endolymphatic sac by dissection or cauterization to produce mild dysfunction of endolymphatic outflow. Cauterization resulted in low degrees of hydrops without any correlation with the inflicted damage. Total dissection of the distal portion of the sac adjacent to the sigmoid sinus produced moderate to severe endolymphatic hydrops with interanimal variation. The consequences of these relatively severe effects, in relation to the mild damage of the endolymphatic sac, and the influence on damaged and undamaged parts of the endolymphatic sac will be discussed.