Transtympanic gentamicin treatment in Meniere's disease: a preliminary report.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of transtympanic gentamicin treatment in Meniere's disease.


METHODS
The present study is a prospective study of 8 patients in Ramathibodi Hospital who had transtympanic gentamicin treatment of Meniere's disease by fixed dose regimen of 12 injections during a period of 4 days. The committee on hearing and equilibrium guidelines for reporting treatment results in Meniere's disease of the American Academy of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery (1995) were used. Paired t-test or Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test was used for statistical comparisons.


RESULTS
Among 8 patients, there were 2 males and 6 females. All patients (100%) had either complete (37.5%) or substantial (62.5%) control of vertigo. Disability was also improved in all of the subjects (100%). Tinnitus was improved in 62.5%. Their tinnitus score and functional level scale were much improved with statistical significance (p = 0.001, p < 0.005, respectively). Hearing was unchanged in 87.5% and slightly worse in 12.5%. This was not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Transtympanic gentamicin treatment was found to be an effective treatment option for patients with disabling or intractable Meniere's disease, with a low incidence of hearing loss. The use of this method appears to be practical and may replace the vestibular surgery.
Kasemsuwan
Lalida
L
Department of Otolaryngology, Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand.
Jariengprasert
Chanchai
C
Chaturapatranont
Supreeya
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D005260:Female; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014432:Tympanic Membrane
D005839:Gentamicins