The impact of petrosal vein preservation on postoperative auditory function in surgery of petrous apex meningiomas

OBJECTIVE: The importance of preserving the superior petrosal vein has received increasing attention in the surgical treatment of pathologies involving the petrous apex. Recent reports have associated postoperative auditory nerve dysfunction with petrosal vein sacrifice. However, there is no systematic clinical study available thus far focusing on the postoperative auditory function after petrosal vein obliteration. METHODS: In 55 patients with meningiomas involving the petrous apex, pre- and intraoperative findings including petrosal vein sectioning were analyzed retrospectively concerning their impact on postoperative auditory function. RESULTS: The petrosal vein was preserved in 26 (47%) cases. In 27 (49%) cases, this vein was not preserved. Hearing loss occurred in 11% of all cases. In the preserved-vein group, postoperative hearing loss occurred in 3 of 26 (11%) cases and in the sacrificed-vein group in 3 of 27 (11%) cases. CONCLUSION: Sacrifice of the petrosal vein during surgery of petrous apex meningiomas seems not to have an impact on postoperative auditory function.