[Intratympanic dexamethasone injections for intractable Meniere's disease].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the efficacy of intratympanic dexamethasone injections (IDI) for 15 patients with intractable Meniere's disease (MD).


METHODS
Dexamethasone (2.5 mg/0.5 ml) was injected into the middle ear and followed by a second injection 15 minutes later. The injection was repeated the next day and weekly for 3 weeks. Total dose of dexamethasone was 17.5 mg.


RESULTS
The 15 patients were followed up for 18 months (average). Complete relief of vertigo was maintained in 10 cases, improved in 2 case, injection wos repeated 3 patients with recurrent vertigo resulted in control of vertigo. Tinnitus disappeared in 5 cases, reduced in 5 cases, unchanged in 5 cases. Hearing was improved in 10 cases, unchanged in 5 cases.


CONCLUSIONS
IDI is effective for intractable MD. The benefits of IDI are avoidance of systemic use of steroids, lower cost, easy application. IDI can be used as an initial surgical treatment for persistent vertigo in MD and indicated for bilateral MD.
Lu
Yongde
Y
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, the Second Hospital of Xiangya Medical College, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China.
Ren
Jihao
J
Wu
Weijing
W
Yin
Tuanfang
T
Yang
Xinming
X
Xie
Dinghua
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D036502:Infusions, Intralesional; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged
D003907:Dexamethasone