By: IPP Bureau
Last updated : September 11, 2026 1:57 pm
The rare condition affects fewer than 10% of tinnitus patients
A 25-year-old woman from Jalgaon, Maharashtra, who had suffered from a persistent, heartbeat-synchronous whooshing sound in her ear for over five years, has found complete relief following a minimally invasive procedure at Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre.
Her case highlights how identifying an underlying vascular cause can help patients with persistent pulsatile tinnitus receive effective treatment after years of uncertainty.
At Jaslok, a multidisciplinary team comprising neurologist Dr. Fali Poncha, endovascular neurosurgeon Dr. Sudheer Ambekar, and haematologist Dr. Samir Shah evaluated her condition.
MRI and MRV investigations revealed venous sinus stenosis, a significant narrowing in one of the major veins responsible for draining blood from the brain.
The patient underwent a minimally invasive venous sinus stenting procedure, in which a stent was guided through the blood vessels to the site of narrowing to widen the vein and restore normal blood flow.
Remarkably, the pulsatile tinnitus disappeared immediately after the stent was deployed, providing the patient with relief from a symptom she had experienced for more than five years.
Dr. Sudheer Ambekar, Endovascular Neurosurgeon, Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre said, “This condition is frequently misdiagnosed or dismissed as anxiety or stress, causing patients to suffer for years without answers. In cases like this, where a structural vascular cause exists, targeted treatment can resolve symptoms almost instantly.”
“The procedure involves a puncture through one of the veins in the groin, through which a catheter is advanced all the way to the narrowed area in the brain before deploying the stent. Thankfully, because of the minimally invasive nature of the procedure, she could be discharged within two days,” added Dr. Ambekar.
“Pulsatile tinnitus deserves thorough evaluation rather than being brushed aside. This case is a reminder that persistent, unexplained symptoms can sometimes have a treatable cause, and patients should not lose hope after being told that ‘nothing is wrong,’” said Dr. Fali Poncha, Neurologist, Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre.
“This case reflects the importance of bringing together specialized expertise and advanced minimally invasive techniques to address conditions that can have a profound impact on a patient’s quality of life,” said Jitendra Haryan, CEO, Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre.