title: Management of Meniere's disease. Surgery may help if medication fails.
abstract: Meniere's disease is the classic triad of fluctuating hearing loss, episodic vertigo, and severe tinnitus. It usually occurs unilaterally, although about 15% to 20% of patients may have bilateral disease. The disease involves a series of acute exacerbations followed by a period of remission; it progresses until the ear has essentially "burned itself out," causing symptoms to subside. Treatment of Meniere's disease should be tailored to the severity of symptoms and the patient's life-style. Initial treatment involves conservative medical management and psychologic support. If this fails, endolymphatic shunt surgery is effective in alleviating symptom in the majority of patients.
mesh_terms: D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000601:surgery*; D004712:Endolymphatic Sac / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D008722:Methods