Intratympanic Dexamethasone Is an Effective Method as a Salvage Treatment in Refractory Sudden Hearing Loss

• DOI: 10.1097/mao.0b013e318238fc43
• Publication Date: 2011-11-16T05:08:12Z
• Authors: In Seok Moon; Jong Dae Lee; Jin Kim; Sung-Jong Hong; Won-Sang Lee
• Keywords: Refractory (planetary science); Salvage therapy; Sudden Hearing Loss

This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of intratympanic dexamethasone (ITD) as a salvage treatment in sudden hearing loss (SHL) patients who had no response initial systemic combination steroid therapy.From May 2007 June 2010, 415 SHL visited 3 tertiary referral centers within 7 days disease onset. They were all treated with an identical protocol, 10-day scheduled hospitalization and oral treatment. Of these, 151 totally unresponsive 2 weeks after initiation according Siegel's criteria. We divided these refractory into groups: those receiving further (control group, n = 59), one more cycle steroids (systemic reapplication 26), ITD therapy (ITD 66). Final assessment was conducted approximately months onset SHL. Hearing improvement defined demonstrating "any" criteria.The average thresholds groups similar. Overall observed 10 59 control 4 26 32 66 group. No serious complications observed. Analyzing by frequency, paradoxically, low mid frequencies significantly improved than high group.Intratympanic administration failure is effective, this should be used cases