INDICATIONS AND RESULTS OF GENTAMICIN INJECTION INTO THE MIDDLE-EAR OF PATIENTS WITH MENIERES-DISEASE

Forty-six cases in whom endolymphatic drainage surgery was performed b etween 1986 and 1992 were followed up for more than 2 years. The resul ts of numerical values (1985 AAOHNS) revealed complete control of defi nite spells in 26 cases; substantial control of definite spells in 18 cases; limited control of definite spells in 1 case; and insignificant control of definite spells in 1 case. Hence, endolymphatic drainage s urgery for Meniere's disease was effective. There are, however, cases who cannot be operated on because of old age or underlying diseases. I n these, we injected gentamycin sulfates mixed with prednisolone throu gh a ventilated tube into the middle ear. The results for gentamycin i njection based on numerical values showed complete control of definite spells in 12 cases; and substantial control of definite spells in 7 c ases. Our treatment of choice for Meniere's disease is endolymphatic d rainage surgery which resulted in 96% control of vertigo. In patients for whom operation has failed, in old patients and in those with heari ng impairment more than 50 dB, gentamycin injection into the middle ea r has proved to be an effective procedure to control vertigo attacks.