Underpressure Test for the Diagnosis of Meniere's Disease

Abstract

During the last 15 years, a pressure chamber capable of generating negative air pressure has been employed to treat Meniere's patients. In this study, we investigated whether a underpressure chamber can be used in the diagnosis of Meniere's disease. Included in this study were 43 patients (45 ears) with neurotological diseases. The subjects were placed in a spine position in a sound-proof pressure chamber. The pressure was first decreased to - 500 mmH₂O and after 5 minutes to - 700 mmH₂O. The pressure was maintained at this level for another 5 minutes and then increased to 0 mmH₂O. This pro- cedure was carried out 3 times in succession. While the chamber pressure was below 0 mmH₂O, the subjects were instructed to avoid active equilibration of the middle ear pressure. When the chamber pressure was increased to 0 mmH₂O, they were instructed to equilibrate the middle ear pressure and if necessary Politzerization or catheterization of the Eustachian tube was performed. As a result, hearing was improved after this procedure only in patients with Meniere's disease and/or cochlear Meniere's disease in which endolymphatic hydrops was suspected.