Definition

An endolymphatic shunt is a surgical procedure in which a very small silicone tube is placed in the membranous labyrinth of the inner ear to drain excess fluid.

Purpose

An endolymphatic shunt is placed as part of the treatment of Ménière's disease, a disorder of the inner ear whose causes are still unknown. Ménière's disease is characterized by the following symptoms:

a rise in the level of endolymphatic fluid in the labyrinth of the inner ear

hearing loss that comes and goes

a sensation that the environment or oneself is revolving or spinning (vertigo)

ringing, buzzing, or hissing noises in the ears (tinnitus)

a feeling that the ears are blocked or plugged

Endolymphatic shunt surgery is one of the surgical procedures available to treat Ménière's disease, which is also known as endolymphatic hydrops. The surgery is based on the theory that the disorder causes the inner ear to become overloaded with fluid and that draining this fluid will relieve the symptoms. The fluid is drained by opening the endolymphatic sac, a pouch located next to the mastoid bone at the end of the endolymphatic duct. The endolymphatic duct is a canal that leads to the inner ear.

From http://www.healthline.com/galecontent/endolymphatic-shunt