title: Clinical study of tympanostomy tube placement for patients with intractable Ménière's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of tympanostomy tube placement in controlling symptoms of intractable Ménière's disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients with intractable Ménière's disease underwent tympanostomy tube placement in the affected ear. Post-operative changes in vertigo attacks and hearing level were recorded, and were evaluated according to American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 12 months after treatment, 3 patients (20 per cent) showed complete control of vertigo, 7 (47 per cent) showed substantial control and 2 (13 per cent) showed limited control; 3 patients (20 per cent) required other treatment. At 24 months after treatment, 7 patients (47 per cent) showed complete control of vertigo, 3 (20 per cent) showed substantial control and 1 (7 per cent) showed limited control; 1 patient required other treatment 15 months after tympanostomy tube placement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is no definite pathophysiological explanation for the effect of tympanostomy tube placement in reducing vertigo attacks. This treatment is not effective for all patients with intractable Ménière's disease. However, tympanostomy tube placement might be an additional surgical therapeutic option to consider prior to contemplating other, more invasive treatments.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology,Tokyo Medical University,Japan.
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Ogawa
authors: Department of Otolaryngology,Tokyo Medical University,Japan.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Otsuka
authors: Department of Otolaryngology,Tokyo Medical University,Japan.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Hagiwara
authors: Department of Otolaryngology,Tokyo Medical University,Japan.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Inagaki
authors: Department of Otolaryngology,Tokyo Medical University,Japan.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Shimizu
authors: Department of Otolaryngology,Tokyo Medical University,Japan.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Nagai
authors: Department of Otolaryngology,Tokyo Medical University,Japan.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Itani
authors: Department of Otolaryngology,Tokyo Medical University,Japan.
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Saito
authors: Department of Otolaryngology,Tokyo Medical University,Japan.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004712:Endolymphatic Sac / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014717:Vertigo / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Endolymphatic Hydrops