SELECTIVE CHEMICAL VESTIBULECTOMY - PRELIMINARY-RESULTS

In an attempt to destroy the peripheral vestibular labyrinth selective ly in patients suffering from intractable vertigo as a result of end-s tage Meniere's disease, 25 patients underwent selective chemical vesti bulectomy between 1989 and 1994. As part of the procedure a certain qu antity of streptomycin was placed between the bony and the membranous part of the lateral semicircular canal, The dosage of streptomycin use d for successful ablation of vertigo varied between 250 and 100 mu g, Within 12 months following the procedure all patients experienced a tr emendous improvement in their overall condition. In spite of the fact that some patients noted an overall hearing improvement, increased coc hlear thresholds were observed in a number of patients, which could no t be ignored. The aim of this report is to detail the reliability of c ontrol of vertigo, conservation of hearing, and change in disability 1 2 months after surgery in the 23 patients (of 25) available for follow -up.