[Efficacy of semicircular canal occlusion in the treatment of stage 3 or 4 Ménière's disease].

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of semicircular canal occlusion in the treatment of intractable Meniere's disease in stage 3 or 4.Method:Retrospective analysis of clincal date of twenty-nine patients who were referred to our institute and diagonsed with Meniere's disease. According to the preoperative staging of hearing, there were 12 cases in stage 3 and 17 cases in stage 4, and all patients underwent semicircular canal occlusion. The preoperative and postoperative frequency of vertigo, hearing, caloric test, functional level and tinnitus level were compared. Postoperative following-up period was 6-23 months, with an average of 13 months.Result:Postoperatively, vertigo was controlled effectively in all 29 cases, of which 26 cases(89.7%) were completely controlled and 3 cases(10.3%) were basic controlled. The hearing stabilized in 25 cases(86.2%), worse in 2 cases(6.9%) and improved in 2 cases(6.9%). The semicircular canal function of all patients were in low status by caloric test. The rate of tinnitus relief and functional improvement was 41.4%(12/29) and 96.6%(28/29).Conclusion:Semicircular canal occlusion is an effective measure for treatment of Meniere's disease in stage 3 or stage 4, especially in controlling vertigo and improving functional level, but the long-term follow-up is necessary.