Current view on the most common postoperative complications and quality of life of patients after vestibular schwannoma surgery

Microsurgical extirpation is one of the basic modalities of treatment for patients with vestibular schwannoma. Considering the significant decrease in mortality and morbidity of patients with vestibular schwannoma in the past decades, the quality of life has become the most important criterion of current treatment management. Despite the great scientific and technological progress in the surgical treatment of vestibular schwannoma, we can encounter a number of serious complications that can have a major impact on the quality of life. A number of questionnaire studies confirm that these are mainly postoperative facial nerve lesion, dizziness and long-term headache. In contrast, tinnitus or unilateral hearing loss may be a less serious handicap in terms of overall quality of life. Keywords: Quality of life – vestibular schwannoma – postoperative complications