[Complications of canalith repositioning procedure for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo]

To investigate the incidence of complications of canalith repositioning procedure (CRP) for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) in order to recognize and intervene the complication.

Totally 430 cases of BPPV were treated by CRP between Jan., 2005 and Nov., 2007. The patients with complication were retreated with CRP according to the new canals otolith falling into.

There were 313 patients with posterior canal BPPV, among which 5 had complications during CRP for posterior canal BPPV and 3 for horizontal canal BPPV. And 1 patient transformed from cupulolithiasis to canalithiasis during Semont CRP, which made CRP possible. Three patients had horizontal BPPV during CRP for posterior canal BPPV. Horizontal BPPV emerged during CRP for anterior canal BPPV in 1 patient. CRP for the posterior BPPV had more patients with complication than that of CRP for the anterior BPPV, but the percentage was on the contrary, and they were 1.9% (8/313) and 28.6% (2/7) respectively. The rate of complication during CRP was 3.3% (14/430) and all of them recovered well with CRP.

There are possibility for canal otolith transferred from one canal to another. Careful observation of nystagmus and reevaluation of the patients with BPPV in case of unsuccessful treatments are crucial to determine the complications.