As you know, there are risks as well as benefits to everything in life, including surgery.
When we decide who are the most suitable candidates to undergo surgery to remove acoustic neuromas (inner ear nerve tumours), we have to consider their age and general health status, tumour size and rate of growth, site, hearing status, dizziness/vertigo and any other relevant issues.
This is actually a rather complex topic as acoustic neuromas may be surgically removed in 3 different surgical approaches. Each surgical approach carries varying degrees of risk and the translabyrinthine approach (through the ear) is what ENT surgeons trained in this area normally perform.
In general, I would say that the risks of acoustic neuroma surgery are:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Facial nerve injury
- CSF leak (leak of brain fluid)
- Hydrocephalus (increases pressure inside the brain which can be dangerous and life-threatening)
- Failure to remove whole tumour due to risk of nerve damage
- Other nerve injuries which may result in swallowing and voice problems
- Locked in syndrome (a neurological state where the patient is in a coma)
If you are considering surgery for your acoustic neuroma, it would be best to discuss everything above together with your family in detail face-to-face with your selected surgeon. He or she can further explain this as well as other alternative options of management of your acoustic neuroma.
Thanks
Best wishes
