Venous sinus stenting for the treatment of isolated pulsatile tinnitus: Results of a prospective trial

Objectives This prospective study evaluates the effectiveness and safety of venous sinus stenting for patients with isolated pulsatile tinnitus and lateral sinus stenosis. Methods Patients with isolated pulsatile tinnitus and lateral sinus stenosis with a minimum trans stenotic gradient of 4 mm Hg were treated with stenting. Pulsatile tinnitus before and after treatment was assessed with the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI). Periprocedural adverse events, neurological complications, clinical and radiographic follow-up were also recorded. Results A total of 42 patients (41 females and 1 male) were included in the study (median age of 37.5 years). Thirty patients had post-stenotic fusiform and 12 had post-stenotic saccular venous sinus aneurysm. In addition to stenting, coils were used to treat the patients with saccular venous aneurysms. The median follow-up was 5 months (range 1 to 34 months). Most patients had complete (39/42) or near-complete (2/42) resolution of their pulsatile tinnitus post-procedure. There were no serious adverse events. Conclusion Stenting of the lateral venous sinus is a safe and effective treatment for patients with isolated pulsatile tinnitus due to venous sinus stenosis.