Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in emergency department: How to treat?

Background: The treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) has not been well studied. Many clinicians are indifferent about canalith reposition maneuvers and frequently prefer medical treatments. Objectives: We aimed to detect efficacy of Epley maneuver in relieving symptoms of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo patients diagnosed in emergency department and if medical treatments are useful in patients whose symptoms were not relieved. Methods: The study was conducted as a prospective cohort study in the emergency department of a tertiary hospital. Patients who were over 18 years of age and presented to emergency department with complaints of vertigo symptoms and nausea and had a positive Dix–Hallpike test were included in the study. Patients’ demographic data, possible etiological factors, affected ear, and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo diagnosis in the history were recorded on the study data form. The European Evaluation of Vertigo scale and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score of nausea and vertigo symptoms were graded and recorded for each patient before and after treatment. Results: Ninety patients were included in the study in total. Epley maneuver was carried out to all patients. Vertigo symptoms VAS (VAS d ) score (p < 0.001), nausea and vomiting VAS (VAS nv ) score (p < 0.001), and European Evaluation of Vertigo scale score (p < 0.001) of all patients showed a statistically significant decrease after Epley maneuver. A combination of dimenhydrinate and metoclopramide helped to reduce VAS d (p = 0.048), VAS nv (p = 0.031), and European Evaluation of Vertigo scale scores (p = 0.001) at a statistically significant level more than dimenhydrinate treatment alone. Conclusions: Epley maneuver may be applied to every patient with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Dimenhydrinate and/or metoclopramide helps to control patients’ symptoms whose symptoms remain despite Epley maneuver.