Intermittent pressure therapy of intractable Meniere's disease and delayed endolymphatic hydrops using the transtympanic membrane massage device: a preliminary report

Abstract

Conclusion. Middle ear pressure treatment by the tympanic membrane massage (TMM) device as well as the Meniett device is effective and provides minimally invasive options for intractable vertigo in patients with Meniere's disease (MD) and delayed endolymphatic hydrops (DEH). Objective: The effects of the TMM device were evaluated according to the criteria of the Japan Society for Equilibrium Research (1995) in patients with MD and DEH and compared to those in patients treated with the Meniett device. Methods: Twelve ears of 10 patients (MD 8; DEH 2) were treated with the TMM device, while 16 ears of 15 patients (MD 11; DEH 4) were treated with the Meniett device. All the patients had failed to respond to medical treatment including diuretics before each pressure treatment, and were followed up for more than 12 months after treatment. Tympanotomy is necessary before treatment for the Meniett device, not but for the TMM device. Results: With both devices, the frequency of vertigo after treatment was significantly lower than before treatment (p < 0.05). The time course of vestibular symptoms with the TMM device was not significantly different from that with the Meniett device (p > 0.05). No complications were directly attributable to treatment with the TMM device.

Keywords::

• Intractable vertigo
• tympanic massage device
• Meniett device
• middle ear pressure treatment

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan. We express our sincere appreciation to all members of the Department of Otolaryngology, University of Toyama, for their assistance and cooperation.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.