Abstract
Twenty-eight patients (30 ears) with Ménière's disease were treated by intratympanic injection of 4% Lidocain. Lidocaine (0.5 ml) was infused into the tympanic cavity transtympanically. These patients had been treated by other conservative medical therapy for at least one month, but had not responded.
Examination 6 months later showed that :
1) This method was extremely effective in reducing vertigo. In 24 ears (80.0%) the vertigo disappeared completely, in 2 ears (6.7%) it improved considerably, while in 4 ears it remained unchanged.
2) In 6 ears (20.0%) hearing improved to above 15 dB, and in 24 ears (80.0%) it remained unchanged. We did not find any deterioration of hearing after the therapy.
3) Before the injection all patients had tinnitus. Tinnitus was reduced in 9 ears (30.0%) with comparatively good hearing under 55 dB prior to therapy, but remained unchanged in the other ears.
The intratympanic injection of 4 % Lidocaine is not only extremely effective but is also very safe as a therapy for Ménièr's disease. Therefore we consider this therapy worth trying for severe Ménièr's disease before more extreme surgery is considered.
