EVALUATION OF PATIENTS WITH BENIGN PAROXYSMAL POSITIONAL VERTIGO IN AN OUTPATIENT SPECIALTY CLINIC

Ano: 2013 | Volume: 17 | Número: Suplemento

Autores: Marques CI, Gonçalves DAR, Neto JMBM, Santos JPA, Freitas ML, Dias MA, et al.

Resumo Inglês:

INTRODUCTION: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a vestibular syndrome characterized by transient episodes of positional vertigo that are associated with a characteristic paroxysmal positional nystagmus. The clinical diagnosis is essentially performed by diagnostic maneuvers. The treatment is highly effective with the achievement of the therapeutic maneuvers. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with BPPV seen in our service, as well as the effectiveness of the therapeutic maneuvers. METHODOLOGY: A prospective, descriptive study was conducted at the Otolaryngology Department of the Armed Forces Hospital. We selected patients who obtained a clinical diagnosis of BPPV and excluded those who did not agree to participate or with contraindications to the achievement of therapeutic maneuvers. Patients with a positive test to the Dix-Hallpike or McClure maneuver were treated with the Epley or Lempert maneuver, respectively. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 49 patients with a clinical diagnosis of BPPV and had an observed female predominance (75.5%). The mean age of the patients was 56.1 years. In the sample, there was a higher incidence of posterior semicircular canal BPPV (91.8%), with no significant difference between the sides. All patients diagnosed with BPPV underwent particle-repositioning maneuvers and instructed to return for reevaluation between 15 and 30 days. Just over half of the patients returned (54.17%), with 57.7% reporting remission and 30.8% having symptom improvement after treatment. CONCLUSION: BPPV is more common in women over 40 years of age. The posterior semicircular canal is the most affected. The treatment is highly effective with the achievement of therapeutic maneuvers.