Intratympanic gentamicin for Ménière's disease: effect on quality of life as assessed by Glasgow benefit inventory.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate patients' quality of life after receiving intratympanic gentamicin as treatment for Ménière's disease.


METHODS
Retrospective study using the Glasgow benefit inventory scale (GBI) questionnaire.


METHODS
Patients diagnosed with Ménière's disease, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) diagnostic criteria (refractory to medical management), who were treated with intratympanic gentamicin injection.


METHODS
This retrospective study included all patients diagnosed with Ménière's disease (according to AAO-HNS criteria; refractory to medical management) undergoing gentamicin labyrinthectomy in our unit over the preceding three years. Other causes of hearing loss were ruled out as all patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging, electronystagmography and sway magnetometry. Patients underwent gentamicin infiltration at a concentration of 2 ml of 30 mg/ml and were reviewed six weeks later and received a repeat injection if no benefit was evident. Six months after their last follow up, they were sent a GBI questionnaire. Twenty-one questionnaires were posted, and the response rate was 81 per cent.


RESULTS
As per the responses received, the total benefit of intratympanic gentamicin injection was found to be +30.3. The three components of GBI were analysed separately; it was found that general benefit was greatest (+33.3), followed by physical benefit (+28.1) and social benefit (+21.6).


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that gentamicin definitely improves quality of life in patients with Ménière's disease and should be the first line of treatment if medical management fails.
Banerjee
A S
AS
Newcastle Balance Centre, Department of Otology, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. rasmayi2000@yahoo.co.uk
Johnson
I J M
IJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014432:Tympanic Membrane
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005839:Gentamicins