Continuous gentamicin therapy using an IntraEAR microcatheter for Meniere's disease: a retrospective study.
OBJECTIVE
The study goals were to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of continuous gentamicin therapy (CGT) in the treatment of Meniere's disease and to evaluate the effect of flow rate.


METHODS
In a retrospective study, physicians who were known to have used CGT in the treatment of Meniere's disease were asked to report patient information on a standardized data collection form.


RESULTS
In patients treated with low-flow CGT, vertigo was eliminated or substantially controlled in 90%, tinnitus was improved in 69%, pressure was improved in 77%, hearing was worse in 23%, and vestibular function was ablated in only 14% of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
On the basis of an average 10-month follow-up period, of the methods currently available to treat Meniere's patients with gentamicin, low-flow CGT seems to provide an excellent combination of vertigo control and tinnitus and pressure improvement, with a relatively low risk to hearing and vestibular function.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical use of low-flow CGT appears to be justified based on these data.
Seidman
Michael
M
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Henry Ford Health System, West Bloomfield, Michigan 48322, USA. mseidma1@hfhs.org
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006309:Hearing / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000188:drug therapy; D014717:Vertigo / Q000188:drug therapy
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005839:Gentamicins