Chemical perfusion of the inner ear

Although introduced in the 1950s, intratympanic therapy for direct treatment of inner ear disease has experienced rapid rise in popularity in the past decade. Philosophies of treatment vary: complete chemical ablation versus alteration, and fixed dosing regimens versus titration to a specific response. Perfusion techniques available include transtympanic injections, injections through a ventilation tube, injections onto material placed in the round window niche, continuous sustained release through the Round Window Microcatheter, and repeated patient self-administration through the MicroWick. Vertigo control rates for Meniere's disease have been excellent, but are associated with a reasonable risk of significant hearing loss. Chemical perfusion techniques also prove promising to treat many forms of inner ear disease, including sudden sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and other forms of vertigo.