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Objectives A last resort for therapy for intractable benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is mechanical occlusion of the posterior semicircular canal. The aim of this review was to assess the effect of posterior canal occlusion for intractable posterior canal BPPV on vertigo and to determine the risk of loss of auditory or vestibular function. Data Sources A systematic literature search according to the PRISMA statement was performed on PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, and CINAHL. The last search was conducted in June 2018. Review Methods Cohort studies with original data and case reports describing >5 cases were included if they analyzed the effect of posterior semicircular canal obliteration in adults with intractable posterior BPPV on vertigo. Two authors screened titles and abstracts for eligibility. The first author screened full texts and analyzed the data. Results Eight retrospective studies met the eligibility criteria. The quality of all individual studies was rated fair. Canal occlusion was performed on 196 patients. All studies reported complete resolution of BPPV in all patients (100%). Among postoperatively tested patients, total loss of auditory function and vestibular function was reported in 2 of 190 (1%) and 9 of 68 (13%), respectively. Conclusion Posterior semicircular canal plugging resulted in 100% resolution of BPPV in patients with intractable BPPV in all studies. However, the strength of evidence was weak. Potential serious complications, such as deafness and loss of vestibular function, should be taken into account.

Introduction: This prospective cohort study determined which questions in patient history are most likely to identify symptoms that are independently associated with a diagnosis of benign paroxysmal positional dizziness (BPPV) in patients presenting with dizziness, and to evaluate whether the patient's age and type of BPPV are of influence.Methods: We included adult patients with dizziness referred to our dizziness center, Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, from December 2018 to November 2019. All patients completed a questionnaire, underwent vestibular testing and received a diagnosis. Symptoms strongly suggesting BPPV were tested with multivariable analysis to determine their independent associations with BPPV. Subgroup analysis was performed for patient age, and the type of BPPV.Results: We included a total of 885 patients, 113 of whom (13%) were diagnosed with BPPV. The duration of dizziness spells <1 min (Q2) and dizziness provoked by rolling over in bed (Q4) were independently associated with the diagnosis BPPV. Q2 showed a sensitivity of 43%, and a specificity of 75%; Q4 scored 81% and 68%, respectively. Overall, the way patients perceived their dizziness (vertigo, light-headedness or instability) was not independently associated with the diagnosis BPPV. In younger patients, light-headedness and instability decreased the likelihood of BPPV compared to vertigo.Conclusion: The most reliable predictors for BPPV in patient history are a short duration of the dizziness spell and provocation of dizziness by rolling over in bed. Unlike younger patients, elderly patients with BPPV do not only perceive the dizziness as vertigo, but also as a feeling of instability.

Purpose: To determine the effectiveness of our treatment protocol for geotropic and apogeotropic horizontal canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (h-BPPV).Methods: We retrospectively evaluated patients with newly diagnosed geotropic and apogeotropic h-BPPV who visited our clinic between July 2017 and December 2019. Patients were treated according to our treatment protocol, which was implemented in 2017. Patients with geotropic h-BPPV were preferably treated with the Gufoni maneuver. In patients with apogeotropic h-BPPV we executed the modified Gufoni maneuver to achieve conversion to the geotropic type. We looked at the number of successful treatments and the number of recurrences within 1 year.Results: We included 102 patients with h-BPPV, 62 (61%) of whom were treated for geotropic h-BPPV. The ratio of apogeotropic to geotropic h-BPPV was 0.65. After the first visit, we observed resolution of horizontal canal BPPV in 71 and 63% of the geotropic and the apogeotropic group, respectively. After the second visit, this percentage increased to 92% for geotropic h-BPPV and 78% for apogeotropic h-BPPV. After 1 year of follow-up we determined a recurrence rate of 32 and 24% for the geotropic and apogeotropic group, respectively.Conclusion: With our treatment protocol we managed to achieve high rates of symptom resolution in the geotropic and apogeotropic type of h-BPPV with acceptable recurrence rates. We observed a relatively high ratio of apogeotropic h-BPPV to geotropic h-BPPV.

Objective: To analyze and compare experiences of anxiety and discomfort caused by the Epley maneuver and the willingness for a potential retreatment between younger (≤70 yr) and older (>70 yr) patients. Study Design: Prospective, observational cohort study. Setting: Tertiary referral center. Methods: Dutch adults, diagnosed with posterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, were included. Patients with dementia or subjected to an Epley maneuver ≤4 months before the hospital visit were excluded. Patients were asked about their experiences with the Epley maneuver directly after the maneuver, after 2 weeks and after 2 months. Differences in experiences between the age groups were tested with the Fisher's exact test and subgroup analyses were performed using multivariable logistic regression. Results: Out of 179 included patients, 115 (64%) were aged ≤70 and 134 (75%) were female. In both groups, 25% reported anxiety directly after the Epley maneuver. Two weeks later, 19 and 27%, respectively (p = 0.26) reported anxiety. In the young group, 30% expressed discomfort directly after treatment compared with 45% in the elderly (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.05–3.75, p = 0.04). Two weeks later, this was 36 and 38%, respectively (p = 0.87). This decreased to 24 and 33%, respectively (p = 0.37), after 2 months. There was no significant difference in willingness for potential retreatment between both groups after 2 weeks (93 and 95%, respectively, p = 0.75) nor after 2 months (97 and 92%, respectively, p = 0.13). Conclusion: The Epley maneuver results in little anxiety and discomfort both in young and in elderly patients. Most patients show willingness for potential retreatment in case symptoms recur.