We compared the therapeutic effects of inner ear anesthetic therapy and the middle ear infusion therapy with a steroid solution in patients with Ménière disease who were unresponsive conservative therapy inculuding oral drug therapy.
Inner ear anesthetic therapy was effective in 42 of 47 ears for vertigo, while middle ear infusion was effective in all 21 ears treated.
Although both therapies were ineffective for hearing disturbance, the former therapy was effective for tinnitus in 36 of 57 ears, and the latter in 26 of 42 ears.
For other concomitant symptoms such as full sansation of ear obturation, head heaviness and stiff shoulders, both therapies were considerably effective.
It was concluded that the first choice of therapy for patients with Ménière disease who do not respond to conservative therapies is middle ear steroid infusion at outpatient clinic, and the second choice is inner ear anesthetic therapy, and that both therapies should be considered before resorting to surgical treatment.
