Surgical treatment of Meniere's disease

In the surgical treatment of Meniere's disease, the authors used their own modified technique based on Fick's operation, with the stapes plate fenestration being replaced by insertion of Garamycin imbibed gelatin in the round window area through a ventilation tube. Eight patients were operated on by this method and efficient elimination of vestibular symptoms was achieved. The results were compared to those from a previous study by the same authors, where patiens suffering front Meniere's disease were surgically treated by Fick's procedure. As differentiated from the Fick's modified platinodecompression, the intratympanic application of Garamycin into the area of round window with simultaneous insertion of a ventilation tube caused a significantly smaller postoperative hearing loss. Consequently, the hearing function was significantly better in comparison to the Fick's decompression technique and was preserved nearly the preoperative level.