Middle ear positive pressure treatment (MEPP) for intractable Meniere's disease

Abstract

Ménierè's disease, which can be regarded as endolymphatic hydrops, and the cause and mechanism of the disease are not clear, although the pathophysiology of the disease involves endolymphatic hydrops. Though medication is the main therapy for symptoms, there is a surgical treatment for the endolymphatic hydrops as the cause. MEPP (middle ear positive pressure treatment) was performed by Meniett^TM which is a pressure pulse generator for patients with intractable Maniere's disease. Though it is effective for vertigo, it is thought not to be effective for hearing loss or tinnitus. The disappearance of vertigo after MEPP and the mechanism of the hearing improvement are thought to involve a decrease in endolymphatic fluid. The usefulness of MEPP was between those of medication for Meniere's disease and surgical treatment. MEPP should be examined further as a treatment of the underlying cause of Meniere's disease.