Vertigo is the most important symptom of Ménière's disease both from the 
standpoint of follow-up and indication for surgery. But although vertigo is an 
alerting symptom for both the patient and the physician, we believe that the 
hearing level is the most reliable and even the single sign in determining the 
recent status of the disease. Between 1983-1989, 42 patients with various types 
of Ménière's disease (MD) (34 typical MD, 3 cochlear MD and 3 vestibular MD) 
underwent endolymphatic sac surgery at ENT department of Gazi University School 
of Medicine. In the typical MD group, patients with a duration of symptoms of 
less than one year prior to surgery revealed better postoperative results; 91% 
fell into class A and B, whereas this rate was found to be lower (40%) in 
patients with symptomatology lasting for more than one year. In conclusion, 
especially in bilateral cases, given the importance of the hearing, early sac 
surgery is thoroughly recommended for the conservation of hearing.