Questions of diagnosing and treating Meniere's disease

The possibilities of diagnosis and treatment of Meniere's disease are considered. Attention is given to the use of dehydration tests which are based on glycerol administration or intravenous injection of furosemide. The risks of bilateral sensorineural hearing impairment in prolonged conservative treatment is emphasized. The data of auditory function study before and following endolymphatic sac surgery are presented

Technique of electrical stimulation of the vestibular analyzer under clinical conditions

Vestibular reactions appear under the action of direct current (dc) on the labyrinth of man and animals. A decrease of the stimulation effect of dc on the extralabyrinthine nervous formations in the suggested method is achieved by the use of electric pulses with steep front and back parts, as well as by previous anesthetization of the skin in the electrode application area by means of novocain solution electrophoresis. For this purpose a pulse producer giving trapezoid pulses with smoothly changing fronts and duration was constructed. With the help of an interrupter it is possible to stop the current increase instantly, and stimulation is performed at the level of the pulse 'plateau'. To induce vestibular reactions under monopolar stimulation, it is necessary to apply the current twice as high as that with bipolar electrode position. The use of short pulses with steep front and back parts for electrode stimulation of the vestibular analyzer is considered to be inexpedient