Tympanostomy tube placement for intractable Meniere’s disease in the elderly

Abstract

Background

The treatment of refractory elderly Meniere’s disease is a challenge.

Aim

To investigate the efficacy of tympanostomy tube placement in elderly patients with Meniere’s disease.

Methods

31 patients over 60 years old with Meniere’s disease who had failed medical treatment and underwent tympanostomy tube placement. Vertigo control, hearing level, tinnitus, and ear fullness were recorded and analyzed preoperatively and postoperatively.

Results

All patients completed a 6-month follow-up. At 6 months postoperatively,complete control, substantial control and limited control of vertigo were achieved in 10 (32%), 13 (42%), and 6 (19%) patients respectively. Two patients (6%) reported no substantial improvement. Twelve patients completed a 2-year follow-up. At 2 years postoperatively, complete control, substantial control and limited control of vertigo were achieved in 3 (25%), 5 (42%), and 1 (8%) patients respectively. Three (25%) patients showed no significant improvement in vertigo. The majority of patients reported significant improvement in the functional level scale, the Dizziness Handicap Inventory scores, and ear fullness at 6 months and 2 years postoperatively.

Conclusions and Significance

Tympanostomy tube placement may reduce vertigo attacks and improved the quality of life in elderly patients with Meniere’s disease.

Chinese Abstract

背景

难治性老年梅尼埃病的治疗是一个挑战。

目的

探讨老年梅尼埃病患者鼓膜置管术的疗效。

方法

31例60岁以上经药物治疗无效的梅尼埃病患者接受鼓室置管术。 术前术后记录并分析眩晕控制、听力水平、耳鸣和耳胀感。

结果

所有患者均完成了 6 个月的随访。 术后6个月, 10 名(32%)患者眩晕得到完全控制, 13 名(42%)和 6 名(19%)患者眩晕分别得到了基本控制和有限控制。 两名患者(6%) 报告没有实质性改善。 12名患者已完成2年的随访。 术后两年, 眩晕完全控制、基本控制和有限控制的患者分别有 3 名 (25%)、5 名 (42%) 和 1 名 (8%)。 三名 (25%) 患者眩晕症状没有明显改善。 大多数患者报告术后6 个月和两年时有功能水平等级、头晕障碍量表评分以及耳胀度的显著改善。

结论和意义

鼓膜置管术可以减少老年梅尼埃病患的眩晕发作并改善他们的生活质量。

Keywords:

• Tympanostomy tube placement·meniere’s disease·vertigo·elderly

Disclosure statement

The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.