n. a surgical procedure to ablate (see ablation) the structures of the *labyrinth, usually performed for cases of severe Ménière’s disease.
(BPPV) a common cause of vertigo in which the patient complains of brief episodes of rotatory vertigo precipitated by sudden head movements. It is thought to be due to microscopic debris derived from the *otoliths of the utricle and displaced into one of the semicircular canals, most commonly the posterior semicircular canal. The debris is most commonly thought to be free in the canal (canalithiasis; see canalith) but can be attached to the *cupula (cupulolithiasis; see cupulolith). Diagnosis is by performing a *Dix–Hallpike test. Treatment is with a predetermined set of head movements to move the debris from the semicircular canal (see Epley particle repositioning manoeuvre; Semont liberatory manoeuvre; Brandt-Daroff exercises). Surgery is occasionally used to occlude the relevant semicircular canal, cut the *singular nerve or vestibular nerves, or perform a *labyrinthectomy. Drugs are generally ineffective in the treatment of this condition.... benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
a disease of the inner ear characterized by episodes of deafness, buzzing in the ears (*tinnitus), and *vertigo. Typically the attacks are preceded by a sensation of fullness in the ear. Symptoms last for several hours and between attacks the affected ear may return to normal, although hearing does tend to deteriorate gradually with repeated attacks. It is thought to be caused by the build-up of fluid in the inner ear. Drug treatments include *prochlorperazine to reduce vertigo in acute attacks and *betahistine as prophylactic treatment. *Transtympanic injections of steroids into the middle ear are sometimes utilized. Alternatively, ototoxic drugs, such as *gentamicin, can be injected through the eardrum into the middle ear to deliberately damage the *vestibular apparatus and hence reduce activity in the inner ear. Surgical procedures used include decompression or drainage of the *endolymphatic sac, *vestibular nerve section, and *labyrinthectomy. Medical name: endolymphatic hydrops. [P. Ménière (1799–1862), French physician]... ménière’s disease
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