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Intermittent pressure therapy of intractable Ménière's disease using the Meniett device: a preliminary report
George A Gates1, J Douglas Green
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98195-7923, USA. ggates@u.washington.edu
Hypothesis:
Treatment with the Meniett device, which applies intermittent micropressure pulses to the inner ear through a tympanostomy tube, is effective in controlling vertigo in people with intractable Ménière's disease.
Study Design:
Short-term, preliminary descriptive report.
Methods:
Ten patients with intractable vertigo despite adequate medical therapy elected to use the Meniett device. After placement of a standard tympanostomy tube, the patient self-administers the Meniett device three times daily.
Results:
The follow-up ranged from 3 to 11 months with an average of 8 months. All 10 patients responded to the therapy with vertigo control in 9 of 10 and a 50% reduction in the 10th case. There was a mean hearing gain of 6 dB, which was statistically significant. There were no major complications. Two subjects required tube reinsertion during the 8 months of follow-up.
Conclusions:
Use of the Meniett device is an effective and safe option for people with intractable vertigo from Ménière's disease.
