Meniett therapy may avoid vestibular neurectomy in disabling Meniere's disease

Acta Otolaryngol. 2007 Nov;127(11):1136-41. doi: 10.1080/00016480701200319.

Abstract

Conclusion: In those patients for whom vestibular neurectomy has been selected due to the disabling recurrence of vertigo spells, Meniett therapy has been shown to allow avoidance of this surgical procedure in a fairly high percentage of patients with Meniere's disease (MD). Our data would also support a better result when pressure treatment is acting on MD of short duration.

Objective: To test the possibility that low pressure treatment (Meniett) could avoid vestibular neurectomy in patients with MD that was refractory to medical treatment.

Patients and methods: The setting was a tertiary referral centre in a university hospital. Thirty-six MD patients, for whom vestibular neurectomy was indicated, underwent Meniett treatment and composed a group in which a long-term (>2 years) follow-up was achieved. Additionally, different durations of MD ('young' and 'old' MD) were distinguished and analysed separately.

Results: Twenty-five patients (69.4%) were treated satisfactorily by using Meniett treatment and therefore avoided vestibular neurectomy. In half of them only one cycle of treatment was necessary.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Audiometry, Pure-Tone
  • Contraindications
  • Equipment Design
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Meniere Disease / physiopathology
  • Meniere Disease / rehabilitation*
  • Meniere Disease / surgery
  • Middle Aged
  • Otologic Surgical Procedures
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Physical Stimulation / instrumentation
  • Physical Therapy Modalities / instrumentation*
  • Pressure
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vestibular Nerve / surgery*