Intratympanic lidocaine instillation for Menière's disease.
OBJECTIVE
We studied the role of intratympanic lidocaine instillation as part of the treatment for vertigo in Menière's disease.


METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed 40 patients who underwent 74 labyrinth anaesthesias in our center between 1996 and 2006. We studied the attack-free period after instillation, the effect of repetitive procedures and the efficacy according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) (1995) criteria.


RESULTS
Labyrinth anaesthesia was effective in 70% of the studied procedures. If effective, the mean duration of the attack-free period was 12.6 months. Repetition was effective in 80.7% of the procedures if the previous procedure was effective as well. Two years after treatment 21 patients had AAO-HNS functional levels of 1 or 2 and 23 patients were class A or B.


CONCLUSIONS
Labyrinth anaesthesia is an effective treatment for Menière's disease and a useful tool for the control of symptoms. Repetitive instillation is effective especially when the previous instillation was also effective.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium.
J
J
Verdonck
C
C
Desloovere
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007322:Instillation, Drug; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019233:Retreatment; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008012:Lidocaine