Treating Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) in ED Patients

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2013-11-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is a common complaint of emergency department patients. The importance of early diagnosis and treatment can lead to a much improved quality of life for patients afflicted by this ailment. It is the purpose of this study to evaluate and examine two methods of treatment. Patients will be randomized to receive the more common conventional medication therapy versus the canalith repositioning technique. All patients enrolled into this study are emergency department patients who have been diagnosed with BPPV via a positive Dix-Hallpike Maneuver. The hypothesis of this study is that vestibular rehabilitation will allow for resolution of symptoms without the use of conventional medication therapy in the acute management of BPPV in the emergency department patient.

• Phase: N/A
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Lehigh Valley Hospital
• Treatments: Diphenhydramine; Lorazepam; Meclizine; Ondansetron; Promethazine

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Subject is a male or female >18 years of age.

2. Subject has presented to the Emergency Department Monday through Friday during the hours of 8 AM to 4:30 PM or possibly extended into the evening and weekend hours if research or physical therapy staff is available, and is diagnosed with BPPV.

3. Subject has positive findings of vertigo and nystagmus when the Dix-Hallpike maneuver is performed during physical examination. A Dix-Hallpike maneuver will be considered positive when the patient experiences nystagmus but resolves or fatigues in less than 60 seconds

4. Informed consent can be obtained for participation in this study.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Subject has taken any antihistamines or anticholinergics within the past 12 hours.

2. Subjects who are unable to ambulate.

3. Subjects with severe cervical spine disease or known cerebral vascular disease.

4. Any positive findings during the neurological exam during physical examination.

5. Subjects who have negative finding of vertigo and nystagmus when the Dix- Hallpike maneuver is performed by the Physical Therapist or research staff even if the subject had a positive finding of vertigo and nystagmus when the Dix-Hallpike maneuver was performed by the physician or resident.

6. Subjects with a known history of Meniere's Disease.

7. Any cardiac complaints during physical examination or subject has experienced a positive loss of consciousness.

8. Subject has been previously enrolled in this study.

9. Subjects with mental conditions that render them unable to understand the nature,

10. Subjects who are unlikely to comply with the study such as subjects with uncooperative attitude, unlikely to complete follow-up visits, or unlikely to complete the study.

11. Any other condition which would confound or interfere with evaluation or prevent compliance with the study protocol.