Meniett device for Ménière's disease: use and compliance at 3 to 5 years

OBJECTIVE: To review the continued use of the Meniett device 2 and 3 years after the device's initial prescription.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series.

SETTING: Tertiary referral center.

PATIENTS: Patients fitting American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery criteria for Ménière's disease who had failed conventional medical therapy between February 2002 and April 2004 and who were ready for surgical intervention.

INTERVENTION: Patients used the Meniett device as a nonsurgical alternative for Ménière's management.

OUTCOME MEASURES: Continued use or non-use of the device.

RESULTS: Twenty-three patients were prescribed and obtained the Meniett device in the study interval. At 2 years of minimum follow-up, there were 21 evaluable patients. Eleven patients (52%) continued to use the device and have good control of vertiginous symptoms at 2+ years. Four patients (19%) were asymptomatic at 1 year and discontinued the use of the device. Six patients (29%) had no impact on their Ménière's symptoms and stopped using the device within the first 3 months. At 3 years of minimum follow-up, there were 19 evaluable patients; of whom, 63% were either using the device or had become asymptomatic. No complications were attributable to the device.

CONCLUSION: We conclude that the Meniett device is a useful minimally invasive alternative in the management of Ménière's disease. Among these patients who had failed previous medical management, 71% and 63% required no additional intervention beyond the Meniett device at a minimum of 2 and 3 years of follow-up, respectively. Most patients who failed to gain benefit did so early on in therapy.