Influence of blood pressure manometer feedback on the parameters of the vestibular evoked myogenic potential test.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to evaluate the merits of a blood pressure (BP) manometry feedback method for measurement of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials.


METHODS
Sixty ears of 30 normal volunteers were prospectively investigated. The vestibular evoked myogenic potentials were recorded under 3 different conditions: in the feedback-negative (FB-) condition, ie, in a sitting position without feedback; in the feedback-positive (FB+) condition, ie, in a sitting position with self-monitored BP feedback (using a BP cuff); and in a supine condition, ie, in a supine position without feedback. The interaural amplitude difference (IAD) ratios and interaural latency differences were analyzed.


RESULTS
The mean IAD ratio was smaller in the FB+ condition than in the FB- and supine conditions, but the difference was without statistical significance. The upper limits of the normal range of the IAD ratios were 39.5%, 18.3%, and 25.9% for the FB-, FB+, and supine conditions, respectively. The interaural latency difference of p13 was significantly smaller in the supine condition than in the FB- and FB+ conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the reduction of the mean IAD ratio did not reach statistical significance by feedback monitoring in our study, feedback using a BP manometer may have some clinical significance, in that a more stable IAD ratio may be obtained with a narrower normal range and a smaller variation.
Suh
Myung-Whan
MW
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea.
Kim
Ji Soo
JS
Koo
Ja-Won
JW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D004576:Electromyography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000502:physiology*