Intratympanic application of gentamicin for treatment of Menière's disease.

Since 1974 we have treated 118 patients suffering from unilateral and bilateral (two patients) Morbus Meniere with intratympanal applications of gentamicin-sulfate. In contrast to earlier attempts using this method, we did not try to destroy the vestibular apparatus, but taking into our considerations the recent findings about the pathophysiological mechanism of Morbus Meniere, only to damage the secretory epithelium thus preventing the endolymphatic hydrops. Relief from symptoms could be obtained in more than 90% of our patients.