SUDDEN SENSORINEURAL HEARING-LOSS AFTER GENERAL-ANESTHESIA FOR NONOTOLOGIC SURGERY

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is a well-recognized phenomen on that is attributed to a variety of etiologies. Sudden SNHL after ca rdiopulmonary bypass surgery has been well reported and is thought to be due to microemboli, However, a review of the English literature rev ealed only 15 cases of SNHL after general anesthesia for nonotologic s urgery, Several etiologies for this loss have been suggested, but no p roven pathogenesis is yet available. This report adds to the literatur e three additional cases of sudden SNHL after general anesthesia for n onotologic surgery. The literature is reviewed and proposed mechanisms of injury are discussed.