Abstract

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss, is a clinical entity of ambiguously defined etiology manifested by hearing loss of more than 30 dB on three contiguous frequencies occurring within 72 hours. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss has been called an otologic emergency and patient evaluation should proceed promptly. Early presentation to a physician and early institution of treatment improves the prognosis for hearing recovery. Although it is not an infrequent condition in otolaryngology practice, sudden sensorineural hearing loss following non-otologic surgery is an extremely rare complication.

In literature, there are some case reports presenting, postoperative sudden sensorineural hearing loss after spinal and cardiac surgery. In all of the reported cases hearing loss existing during the first week of post operative period. In the present case of a 67 years old female patient who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery under general anesthesia and developed hearing loss of the left ear on postoperative fifteenth day. Because the patient were under anticoagulant, antihypertensive, and antidiabetic therapy, we only gave 1 mg/kg corticosteroid treatment for two weeks. Pure tone audiograms were repeated at daily intervals but no improvement seen in hearing.

A high index of suspicion and close follow up are required to early diagnosis of this complication. It is crucial that individuals with sudden hearing loss are identified as soon as possible as the recovery rate had been shown to be higher in those who presented early.

Keywords: Coronary artery bypass surgery, Hearing loss, Sudden sensorineural hearing loss