title: Low-dose intratympanic gentamicin treatment for dizziness in Ménière's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Intratympanic gentamicin is used to control dizziness of Ménière's disease, with a low rate of morbidity and a high success rate. We aimed to develop a new technique and schedule of therapy using a lower dose.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review in Ménière's disease patients treated for intractable dizziness.
  
  
  METHODS
  A tertiary/quaternary care outpatient setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were administered intratympanic gentamicin using a low-dose protocol on 2 successive days and evaluated with pre- and post-treatment audiovestibular assessment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Standard evaluation methods of audiovestibular function measured pre- and postfunction of hearing and balance to determine the effects of treatment and morbidity in the form of hearing loss. A telephone follow-up survey was also undertaken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients reported satisfactory control of dizziness, with little morbidity in the form of hearing loss. We also found that the use of a myringotomy tube could be precluded. Post-treatment symptoms of imbalance reported by patients settled as patients compensated. In a telephone survey conducted some years after treatment, patient satisfaction was found to be high.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This two-dose regime was shown to be effective in controlling dizzy spells. In patients refractory to the initial two-dose treatment, a follow-up course of treatment usually proved effective. Long-term follow-up of patients seems to show that failure of treatment usually occurs within the first few months, and that symptoms, once controlled, rarely recur.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Longridge
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Mallinson
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004244:Dizziness / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004432:Ear, Middle; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006309:Hearing / Q000187:drug effects; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000187:drug effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005839:Gentamicins