Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology (Apr 2015)

Is it important to repeat the positioning maneuver after the treatment for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo?

  • Alexandra Kolontai de Sousa Oliveira,
  • Fabio Akira Suzuki,
  • Leticia Boari

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjorl.2014.06.002
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 81, no. 2
pp. 197 – 201

Abstract

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INTRODUCTION: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common cause of peripheral vestibular dysfunction.OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the performance of the Dix-Hallpike maneuver after the Epley positioning maneuver has prognostic value in the evolution of unilateral ductolithiasis of posterior semicircular canal.METHODS: A prospective cohort study in monitored patients at otoneurology ambulatory with a diagnosis of BPPV; they were submitted to the therapeutic maneuver and then to a retest in order to evaluate the treatment effectiveness; all cases were reassessed one week later and the retest prognostic value was evaluated.RESULTS: A sample of 64 patients which 47 belonging to negative retest group and 17 belonging to positive retest. Performed the maneuver in all patients, the retest presented 51.85% sensitivity, 91.89% specificity, 82.35% positive predictive value and 72.34% negative predictive value.CONCLUSION: The study shows that doing the retest after repositioning maneuver of particles in BPPV is effectual, since it has high specificity.

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