Microdose gentamicin delivered via the round window microcatheter: A therapeutic option in Menière's disease

Transtympanic gentamicin therapy is becoming an increasingly popular treatment for Menière's disease. Despite its popularity, transtympanic therapy is not without controversy. Vertigo cure rates are high, but hearing loss rates are variable. The best total dose of medicine, the best route of administration, and the best end-point of therapy have not been established. Meanwhile, the mode of action of gentamicin in controlling Menière's disease is still not completely understood. In the last several years, many groups have started to use a variety of sustained release devices to more accurately control the amount of gentamicin administered to the ear. This report discusses the use of one such sustained release device, and the effects of its use with very low doses of gentamicin, on the symptoms of Menière's disease.