Intratympanic gentamicin: a 1-day protocol treatment for unilateral Meniere's disease.

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to assess the usefulness of low-dose intratympanic gentamicin administration in patients with Meniere's disease (MD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We carried out a retrospective review of the charts of 55 patients with definite MD in accordance with the AAO-HNS (American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery) Diagnostic Scale who were treated at Gruppo Otologico (Piacenza, Rome, Italy). The treatment protocol consisted of 3 intratympanic injections of gentamicin at a 12-hour interval between each administration.

RESULTS

Results were resumed in accordance with AAO-HNS criteria and showed complete control of vertigo spells in 60% (class A), good control in 16% (class B), moderate control in 4% (class C), poor control in 16% (class D), and no control in 4% (class E) of the patients. Audiological assessment showed unchanged thresholds in 61%, improvement in 22%, and worsening in 17% of the cases.

CONCLUSION

Administration of gentamicin is a good alternative to medical and surgical procedures in the treatment of intractable MD. One-day treatment allows for adequate control of vertigo attacks without compromising hearing and quality of life and with reduced costs.