2.2 Study Design
ITD Group: ITD Group included 62 patients who were all diagnosed with Méniere’s disease (83 ears). Méniere’s disease is strictly diagnosed according to the symptom complex, including episodic vertigo, aural fullness, tinnitus and hearing loss. All patients had complete audiologic and caloric examination. Then, ITD Group was further divided into ITD1 group and ITD2 group.ITD1 Group: 31 patients (41 ears) were treated with 2mg/ml Dexamethasone. ITD2Group: 31 patients (42 ears) were treated with 5mg/ml Dexamethasone. Injectable dexamethasone was induced in ear drum under the guidance of ear endoscopy. The patient lied on his side with the ears of dexamethasone added upwards to immerse the round window membrane in the solution for an appropriate time. The patient was lied with the ear up for 20 minutes, so that the round window membrane would be bathed in the solution for a proper time. Patients received ITD every three days for a total of ten times.
ITL Group: In order to more accurately evaluate the complication characteristics of Méniere’s disease patients treated with ITD, another 62 patients (91 ears) treated with ITL were set asrandomized control . The method and frequency of tympanic injection were the same as the ITD group.
Throughout the course of treatment, All the patients in both groups received the same regimen of oral medication to improve the inner ear microcirculation and neural function. The medication regimen is as follows: betahistine 12mg tid and mecobalamin 0.5mg tid .