Triple semicircular canal occlusion for the treatment of Ménière's disease

CONCLUSION: Triple semicircular canal occlusion (TSCO) controls vertigo, is easy to perform, and could be used as an alternative procedure for the treatment of Meniere's disease in selected patients who complain mainly of intractable vertigo. OBJECTIVE: To seek an effective alternative surgical procedure for treating Ménière's disease in selected patients with intolerant rotational vertigo. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three patients with Ménière's disease who underwent unsuccessful endolymphatic sac decompression or mastoid shunt, then underwent TSCO. Vertigo control and vestibular and auditory function were measured. RESULTS: The early vestibular symptoms caused by surgery resolved quickly and no hearing deterioration occurred after surgery. At the end of the follow-up period, based on the AAO-HNS criteria, two cases had complete control of vertigo (class A) and the other had substantial control of vertigo attacks (class B). Hearing was similar to the preoperative level at the end of the follow-up period.     

难治性梅尼埃病手术控制眩晕的远期疗效观察

目的：观察难治性梅尼埃病手术控制眩晕的远期疗效。方法：施行内淋巴囊手术或经迷路进路前庭神经切断术治疗难治性梅尼埃病５４例,其中长期接受随访、资料完整者１２例。结果：随访８￣１３年,６例前庭神经切断术患者示再发作眩晕;６例内淋巴囊手术者,３例眩晕症状完全控制,３例基本控制。结论：肉淋巴囊手术及经迷路进行前庭神经切断术为控制难治性梅尼埃病患者眩晕的有效手段,对于有适应证的患者经迷路进路前庭神经切断术控     

Intratympanic gentamicin for control of vertigo in Meniere's disease: vestibular signs that specify completion of therapy

OBJECTIVE: To determine if a protocol of weekly intratympanic gentamicin injections administered until development of signs of unilateral vestibular hypofunction can alleviate vertigo while preserving hearing in patients with intractable vertigo caused by unilateral Meniere's disease. STUDY DESIGN: The study design was a prospective investigational protocol. SETTING: The study was performed in outpatients at a tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Entry criteria included a diagnosis of "definite" Meniere's disease according to the 1995 report of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS), intractable vertigo despite optimal medical therapy, no symptoms suggestive of Meniere's disease in the contralateral ear and serviceable hearing in the contralateral ear. The outcomes of the first 34 patients who entered the protocol are reported. INTERVENTION: A buffered gentamicin solution was injected into the middle ear at weekly intervals until development of spontaneous nystagmus, head-shaking-induced nystagmus, or head-thrust sign indicative of vestibular hypofunction in the treated ear. Main OUTCOME MEASURE: The 1995 AAO-HNS criteria for reporting treatment outcome in Meniere's disease were used. The effects of treatment were assessed in terms of control of vertigo, disability status, hearing level, and quantitative measurement of vestibular function with caloric and rotatory chair tests. RESULTS: Vertigo was controlled in 91% of the patients. Profound hearing loss occurred as a result of gentamicin injection in one patient (3%). Intratympanic gentamicin was significantly less effective in controlling vertigo in patients who had previous otologic surgery on the affected ear. Recurrence of vertigo > or = 6 months after initially complete control was noted in seven patients (22%). Vertigo in six of these patients was eliminated by additional intratympanic gentamicin injections. CONCLUSIONS: Ending weekly intratympanic gentamicin injections when clinical signs of unilateral vestibular hypofunction appear can control vertigo in most patients. Hearing loss directly attributable to gentamicin is uncommon. Treatment outcome is best in patients who have not had previous otologic surgery.     

联合应用内淋巴囊减压和局部激素治疗难治性梅尼埃病的短期与长期疗效分析

目的 探讨内淋巴囊减压联合经面隐窝鼓室内激素注射以及内淋巴囊表面覆盖激素明胶海绵治疗难治性梅尼埃病的短期与长期临床效果。 方法 回顾分析针对难治性梅尼埃病进行手术治疗的23例患者资料。手术方式在传统内淋巴囊减压的基础上,开放面隐窝,并在圆窗周围放置明胶海绵,鼓室内注射激素,同时在内淋巴囊表面放置明胶海绵并在乳突内注射激素。比较患者治疗前6个月与术后6~12个月(短期疗效),以及术后18~24个月(长期疗效)的眩晕发作次数以及平均听阈水平(500、1 000、2 000 Hz)。 结果 23例患者完成短期疗效评价,术后眩晕发作次数由(5.7±5.9)次(术前6个月)降至(0.4±1.0)次(术后6~12个月),眩晕控制率为87.0%。术后听力维持率为95.7%。13例患者完成长期疗效评价,术后眩晕发作次数由(4.2±2.6)次(术前6个月)降至(0.1±0.3)次(术后18~24个月),眩晕控制率为92.3%,术后听力维持率为100%。 结论 内淋巴囊减压联合局部激素治疗对于保守治疗无效的难治性梅尼埃病具有良好的眩晕控制率和听力维持率,值得推广。     

Three new surgeries for treatment of intractable Meniere's disease

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the rationales for and preliminary results of three new types of surgery for the treatment of intractable Meniere's disease, all involving insertion of a capillary tube into the endolymphatic duct. This study also aimed to compare the contrasting surgical strategies of endolymphatic sac enhancement versus sac supplantation. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: The study design was a retrospective review of 129 surgeries conducted by the author at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital since 1993: 51 cases of Huang/Gibson inner ear shunt implantation, 52 cases of intraductal capillary tube implantation (ICTI), and 26 cases of ICTIin combination with endolymphatic sac ballooning surgery (ESBS). PATIENTS: This study is limited to patients with classic Meniere's disease whose vertiginous symptoms were disabling and refractory to dietetic and medical treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Comparison of preoperative and postoperative conditions (e.g., vertigo control, hearing, disability) using American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) 1985 criteria and chi-square statistical method was measured. RESULTS: After 1 year of follow-up, use of the Huang/Gibson shunt resulted in a 94.1% vertigo control rate (complete or substantial) and fairly good hearing results, ICTI by itself resulted in an 88.5% rate of vertigo control and relatively unremarkable hearing results, and the ICTI in combination with ESBS (ICTI/ESBS) achieved a vertigo control rate of 96.1% in addition to good hearing results. CONCLUSIONS: The 1-year follow-up results for Huang/Gibson shunt implantation and sac-preserving ICTI/ESBS have approximately duplicated the excellent performance of the Arenberg implant after the same follow-up period, perhaps attributable in part to enhancement of endolymph flow through the endolymphatic duct.     

Innovar treatment for Meniere's disease.

Patients with intractable vertigo due to clinical Meniere's disease were offered treatment with Innovar, a neurolept analgesic. The patients were from a single clinical practice, had failed conventional dietary and medical treatment and were eligible on clinical grounds for endolymphatic sac surgery. After a follow-up of 2-8 years, 58% of patients had long-lasting relief of vertigo. Hearing was not affected. Risk factors for a favorable response were male gender, fluctuating hearing, and early stage of the disorder. Innovar is a safe, cost-effective second-line therapy for patients with Meniere's disease who have failed conventional first-line medical therapy.     

Surgical treatment of Menière's disease since Thomsen

The effects of Thomsen's 1981 report of a controlled double-blind study on the surgical treatment of Meniere's disease were studied by reviewing the current literature and Thomsen's subsequent reports. The current surgical literature was found to contain reasonable support for the continued use of endolymphatic shunt procedures despite the criticism of such procedures by Thomsen. Surgical therapy for Meniere's disease continues to be divided into auditory sparing or conservative procedures and auditory ablative or destructive procedures. Conservation procedures are important because approximately 30% of patients with Meniere's disease progress to bilateral involvement. Endolymphatic sac procedures continue to be classified as conservative. Important findings in the current literature are reports of long-term follow-up of patients after sac surgery. These question the long-term control of hearing loss but support the use of the procedure due to its low morbidity and consistent control of vertigo. Other authors have described the different types of endolymphatic procedures and confirm their equal effectiveness. The results of middle fossa and retrolabyrinthine vestibular neurectomy were also reviewed, and its continued control of vertigo were affirmed. The increased number of severity of complications (compared with endolymphatic shunt procedures) were noted. Finally, a strategy for surgical treatment of Meniere's disease, beginning with the patient with uncontrollable vertigo, is presented.     

Low-dose intratympanic gentamicin treatment of Meniere's disease

To control attacks of vertigo while preserving both hearing and labyrinthine function, low doses of gentamicin were instilled intratympanically in nine patients with intractable unilateral Meniere's disease. Each patient received six instillations of antibiotic of 4 mg each (total dose, 24 mg). Patients were then followed for 2–4 years. Long-term results of treatment are reported according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 1985 criteria. Of the nine cases, three experienced complete control of vertiginous attacks, while six received substantial control. Post-treatment hearing acuity was unaffected, although disability following treatment became worse in one patient, a 66-year-old man. Caloric responses after therapy were absent or severely reduced in three ears, moderately reduced in two ears and unchanged in four ears. In three patients, labyrinthine function was found damaged 4–8 days after administration of the last dose of drug. Overall, intratympanic instillations of low doses of gentamicin in patients with intractable Meniere's disease were found to control vertiginous attacks with less damage to the inner ear function than that reported in the literature.     

Effects of endolymphatic sac drainage with steroids for intractable Meniere's disease: a long-term follow-up and randomized controlled study

OBJECTIVE: Meniere's disease is a common inner ear disease with an incidence of 15 to 50 per 100,000 population. Since Meniere's disease is thought to be triggered by an immune insult to the inner ear, we examined intraendolymphatic sac application of steroids as a new therapeutic strategy for intractable Meniere's disease. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective randomized controlled study. METHODS: Between 1996 and 2005, we enrolled and assigned 197 intractable Meniere's patients to three groups in a randomized controlled trial: Group I (G-I)- patients who underwent endolymphatic sac drainage and steroid-instillation; Group II (G-II)-those who underwent endolymphatic sac drainage without steroid-instillation; and Group III (G-III)-those who declined endolymphatic sac drainage. Definitive spells and hearing in all three groups were determined for 2 to 7 years after treatment. RESULTS: According to the 1995 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) criteria, 2-year results demonstrated that vertigo was completely controlled in 88.0% of patients in G-I (n = 100), 85.1% of patients in G-II (n = 47), and 8.0% in G-III (n = 50). Statistically, G-I = G-II>G-III. Hearing was improved in 49.0% of patients in G-I, 31.9% in G-II, and 6.0% in G-III (G-I>G-II>G-III). Results after 7 years showed that vertigo was completely controlled in 78.8% of patients in G-I, 79.2% in G-II, and 25.0% in G-III (G-I = G-II>G-III). Hearing improved in 36.5% of patients in G-I, 8.3% in G-II, and 0.0% in G-III (G-I>G-II = G-III). CONCLUSIONS: From non-surgical observation in G-III for at least 7 years after treatment, steroids instilled into endolymphatic sac in G-I patients significantly improved hearing in intractable Meniere's patients, more so than endolymphatic sac drainage without steroids in G-II patients.     

Intratympanic gentamicin for intractable Meniere's disease

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to analyze the results of the intratympanic injection of gentamicin as a treatment option for patients with unilateral Meniere's disease who were refractory to medical treatment. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study in the setting of a tertiary care medical center. METHODS: Seventy-one patients with unilateral Meniere's disease according to 1995 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 1995 guidelines who had been unresponsive to medical therapy for at least 1 year were studied. Intratympanic injections of a prepared concentration of 27 mg/mL gentamicin were performed at weekly intervals until the development of symptoms and signs indicative of vestibular hypofunction in the treated ear. As the main outcome measure, the 1995 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery criteria for reporting treatment outcome in Meniere's disease were used. The results of treatment were expressed in terms of control of vertigo, disability status (functional level and degree of overall impairment evaluated by the Dizziness Handicap Inventory and the University of California Los Angeles Dizziness Questionnaire), hearing level, and quantitative measurement of vestibular function. RESULTS: Vertigo was controlled in 83.1% of the 71 patients. Recurrence of vertigo spells after initially complete control was noted in 17 patients. In 13 of these patients, this was cured by another course of intratympanic injections of gentamicin. Functional level and measures of self-reported handicap were significantly and promptly lowered after treatment in the patients who attained control of vertigo. Hearing level as pure-tone average was unchanged 2 years after treatment, but hearing loss as a result of gentamicin injections occurred in 23 patients at the end of treatment and in 9 and 11 patients at 3 months and 2 years after the treatment, respectively. Vestibular function was kept normal or reduced in 49.3% of the patients, whereas in the rest of the patients vestibular areflexia was observed. Control of vertigo did not depend on the amount of vestibular damage. CONCLUSIONS: Ending weekly intratympanic injections when clinical signs of vestibular deafferentation appear can control vertigo in the majority of patients, and it is a useful alternative, together with other surgical options, for the treatment of patients with Meniere's disease who do not respond to medical treatment.     

Endolymphatic sac drainage and steroid-instillation surgery (EDSS) for intractable Meniere's disease

Endolymphatic sac surgery is one of the most widely accepted techniques used to treat intractable Meniere's disease. To improve this surgery, we developed the following techniques: A simple mastoidectomy was used to expose the endolymphatic sac between the sigmoid sinus and inferior margin of the posterior semicircular canal. The sac was opened and filled with a mass of prednisolone. A bundle of absorbable gelatin films was then inserted into the sac lumen to expand it, followed by gelatin sponges dipped in a high concentration of dexamethasone. Long-term results (17-32 months) in 20 patients with intractable Meniere's disease treated with endolymphatic sac drainage and steroid-insertion surgery (EDSS) showed that definitive spells were completely controlled in 15 of 20 cases (75%); all reports of vertigo decreased; hearing improved in 12 of 20 cases (60%); and annoyance due to tinnitus decreased in 15 of 20 cases (75%). Steroids directly instilled into the endolymphatic cavity may thus be more effective with the diseased inner ear organs than those applied via any other route. Draining of endolymphatic fluid at the sac into the mastoid cavity also contributed to these satisfactory EDSS results.     

半规管阻塞加内淋巴囊减压治疗顽固性梅尼埃病

目的：探讨三个半规管阻塞加内淋巴囊减压治疗顽固性梅尼埃病的疗效,并总结手术要点。方法中晚期单侧梅尼埃病患者14例,术前0．25、0．5、1、2 kHz 骨导听阈35～65 dB HL;14例均在全麻下完成内淋巴囊减压术,同时磨开三个半规管骨质成骨性小窗,以软组织填塞半规管管腔;术后随访3～18月,评估患者眩晕控制情况以及听力、耳鸣的变化。结果14例均顺利完成手术,术后均无面瘫及脑脊液漏,除1例失访外,余13例均未再发生眩晕;8例听力较术前无变化,5例语言频率平均骨导听力较术前下降10～15 dB;10例耳鸣无变化,1例耳鸣变为偶发,2例耳鸣加重。结论半规管阻塞加内淋巴囊减压术对中、晚期梅尼埃患者中短期眩晕控制良好,但内淋巴囊减压并不能缓解半规管阻塞引起的听力损失风险。     

梅尼埃病手术治疗的探讨

目的：探讨不同手术治疗梅尼埃病的临床疗效。方法：对21例梅尼埃病患者行内淋巴囊减压术．9例行乙状窦后前庭神经切断术，并进行随访观察。结果：术后经3～6年随访，内淋巴囊减压组眩晕完全控制11例，基本控制4例，部分控制4例，未控制2例。前庭神经切断组眩晕均得到完全控制。结论：内淋巴囊减压术仍然是手术治疗梅尼埃病的首选方法，但对内淋巴囊手术治疗无效或严重眩晕失去工作能力者．应考虑采用前庭神经切断术。     

梅尼埃病两种内淋巴囊手术方式的远期疗效观察

目的：评估与比较内淋巴囊乳突腔分流术（EMS）和内淋巴囊减压术（ESD）治疗梅尼埃病（MD）的远期疗效。方法：1994—06—2007—07采用内淋巴囊手术治疗原诊断为MD的患者59例,其中EMS34例,ESD25例,选择诊断符合MD诊断依据和疗效评估标准,术后2年以上、随访资料完整的23例24耳（分流术12例13耳,减压术11例11耳）进行回顾性总结。结果：EMS组12例13耳,随访3～14年,眩晕A级完全控制者9耳,B级基本控制4耳;ESD组11例11耳,随访2-14年,术后眩晕A级8耳,B级2耳,C级1耳。EMS组听力B级1耳（7．7％）,C级6耳,D级6耳;ESD组听力B级2耳（18．2％）,C级4耳,D级5耳。2组眩晕控制和听力改善差异无统计学意义。结论：EMS和ESD都是治疗MD的有效方法,对眩晕症状的控制效果满意,临床分期中晚期患者仍有疗效。     

Surgical treatment of vertigo with retrolabyrinthine vestibular neurectomy

Results for control of vertigo and preservation of hearing in patients who have had a retrolabyrinthine vestibular neurectomy (RVN) by our group were analyzed retrospectively. This procedure consists of selective section of the vestibular nerve in the posterior cranial fossa. Vertigo was completely controlled in all but two of 31 patients, one of whom required revision surgery to control attacks. Analysis of these two cases suggests that the cause of persistent vertigo is incomplete neurectomy. With our current surgical technique in patients with Meniere's disease, hearing results were not statistically different from our results with surgery of the endolymphatic sac. Control of vertigo was much more successful with the RVN than endolymphatic sac surgery.     

Intratympanic gentamicin for unilateral Meniere's disease: results of therapy

Patients with Meniere's disease that remains refractory to conservative treatment have traditionally been subjected to ablative surgery. The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the use of intratympanic gentamicin in eliminating incapacitating vertigo, while preserving hearing. Over the past 8 years, 83 patients have received between 1 and 6 intratympanic injections of gentamicin in an out-patient setting, with duration of therapy titrated to individual symptom response and effect on hearing. Using established AAO-HNS guidelines, we present data on 50 patients who have a minimum of 2 years follow-up. Control or significant improvement of definitive Meniere's attacks was achieved in 92% of patients and hearing preserved or improved in 76%. Only one patient experienced profound sensorineural hearing loss. We feel this treatment option should be considered and offered to patients in whom medical treatment has failed.     

Perfusion of the inner ear with streptomycin

Any medical or surgical treatment of Meniere's disease is always suspect because the natural history is so variable and the pathologic physiology is not well-known. Even the occurrence rate in one and both ears is not known. It is certainly true that endolymphatic hydrops, caused by the failure of absorption of endolymph in the endolymphatic sac, is the principal pathology in the classical, fully developed Meniere's disease. While the endolymphatic shunt operation is correct in theory, in most ears, it does not work because the surgeon does not always locate the lumen of the sac and when located, the shunt tube does not remain open. While vestibular neurectomy is more likely to give permanent relief of vertigo as compared to the endolymphatic sac operation, the operation is difficult and dangerous and does nothing for the hearing. The vestibulotoxic action of the aminoglycocide antibiotics, especially streptomycin, when introduced into the perilymph of the lateral semicircular canal will destroy the vestibular receptors without making the hearing worse, and by acting on the dark cells, reduce the production of endolymph. Perfusion of the perilymph with streptomycin through an opening in the bony lateral semicircular canal is the operation of choice for Meniere's disease, benign paroxysmal postural vertigo and other forms of vertigo. So far 66 such operations have been done during the last three years with very encouraging results.     

Hearing preservation in vestibular neurectomy

The goal of vestibular neurectomy is to control disabling vertigo while preserving hearing in patients with nonhydropic intractable peripheral vertigo or in patients with Meniere's disease in which an endolymphatic sac procedure has failed. Labyrinthectomy continues to be used to treat patients with intractable vertigo and serviceable hearing. We feel that a labyrinthectomy is contraindicated when any useful hearing remains. Vestibular neurectomy affords the surgeon a means to eliminate the abnormal vestibular input without sacrificing hearing. Two approaches have been used to section the vestibular nerves: the middle fossa approach since 1961 and the retrolabyrinthine approach more recently. Both approaches are effective in relieving vertigo while preserving hearing. This paper presents a statistical analysis of these two approaches. Although differences did exist, both were found to be highly successful in alleviating incapacitating vertigo and preserving hearing in a large percentage of patients.     

Surgical management of special cases of intractable Meniere's disease: unilateral cases with intact canals and bilateral cases

If a clinician seeks to allow patients with vertigo to return to work as soon as possible, it is very important to determine the appearance of vestibular symptoms during convalescence just after treatment, as well as the long-term results. Apprehensive patients with vertigo may undergo severe psychological torment if treatment requires long-term rest in bed before they can return to daily life. In this paper, we observed postoperative vestibular symptoms (subjective sensation and objective nystagmus) in 50 patients with intractable Meniere's disease, including cases from our previous preliminary report, during the period of convalescence just after endolymphatic sac drainage and steroid instillation surgery (EDSS). All symptoms were eliminated within 8 days after EDSS. There was no significant difference in the duration of any vestibular symptoms between bilateral (n = 8) and unilateral cases (n = 42). This result indicates that EDSS could be as safe a treatment for bilateral Meniere's disease as for unilateral disease. In unilateral cases with intact semicircular canal function (n = 17), postoperative evoked vestibular sensation, positional, and positioning (Dix-Hallpike) nystagmus disappeared significantly earlier than in those with canal paresis (n = 25). This result indicates that EDSS could keep the vestibular peripheral function of patients with unilateral Meniere's disease with intact canals quite stable after surgery. Therefore, EDSS could be recommended as an initial, less-invasive surgical treatment for intractable Meniere's disease, especially in unilateral cases with intact canals and in bilateral cases.     

Use of intratympanic gentamycin for the treatment of Meniere's disease

The ablation treatment of Meniere's disease by intratympanic streptomycin applications was first reported by Schuknecht in 1957. Streptomycin and gentamycin are the most frequent aminoglycosides used for the Meniere's disease treatment. Gentamycin is responsible for the damage of vestibular dark cells causing the impairment of endolymph production. This method gives the possibility for the control of the vertigo with a potential hearing preservation. Fifteen patients with unilateral Meniere's disease who had not responded to conventional therapy, were treated by intratympanic gentamycin injections. The hearing status and the caloric test were staged before and after treatment according to the AAO-HNS guidelines. Overall results after minimum 1 year follow-up in this group were as shown below: complete vertigo control--5 patients, substantial vertigo control--8 patients, complete relief of tinnitus--10, relief of aural fullness--12 patients, hearing loss--none. According to presented results, intratympanic injections of gentamycin is the useful alternative to the surgery. This method should be consider in every patient with the unilateral Meniere's disease, who had not responded to the conventional treatment.