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Primary assessment of the vertiginous patient at a pre-ENT balance clinic

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2007

A C Leong ,
F Barker  and
N R Bleach
A C Leong*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Wexham Park Hospital, Slough, UK
F Barker
Affiliation:
Department of Audiology, King Edward VII Hospital, Windsor, UK
N R Bleach
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Wexham Park Hospital, Slough, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Miss Annabelle C Leong, Department of ENT, Wexham Park Hospital, Wexham, Slough SL2 4HL, UK. Fax: 01753 6333021 E-mail: annabelle.leong@btinternet.com
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Abstract

Introduction:

Due to problems with long waiting times for assessment of vertiginous patients (more than 24 weeks), we changed practice and instituted a pre-ENT balance clinic assessment; we then audited the results. In particular, we looked at the subgroup with benign positional paroxysmal vertigo.

Methods:

One hundred and fifteen patients were seen at the pre-ENT balance clinic from October 2003 to September 2004. Those diagnosed with benign positional paroxysmal vertigo received particle repositioning therapy at the same clinic and did not subsequently need ENT assessment.

Results:

By the end of the audit period, waiting times were reduced to three weeks, and more than one-quarter of vertiginous patients (i.e. those diagnosed with benign positional paroxysmal vertigo) did not need to be reviewed at an ENT clinic.

Conclusion:

We believe this to be the first study to present prospective data showing that patients with benign positional paroxysmal vertigo may be safely diagnosed and effectively managed at a pre-ENT balance clinic.

Keywords

Vestibular DiseasesBPPVBalance ClinicAudiologyParticle Repositioning Therapy
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 122 , Issue 2 , February 2008 , pp. 132 - 138
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2007

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Footnotes

Presented at the British Academic Conference of Otolaryngologists, 5–7 July 2006, Birmingham, UK.

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