The study of galvanic vestibular stimulation in patients of total unilateral vestibular loss

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to observe the nystagmus of totally unilateral vestibular function loss on galvanic vestibular stimulation and the diagnostic value of galvanic vestibular stimulation. Additionally we wanted to evaluate which portions may be stimulated by galvanic vestibular stimulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the three parameters of galvanic stimulation in fourteen patients with totally unilateral vestibular function loss, 1)spontaneous nystagmus, 2)galvanic stimulating nystagmus, 3)Post galvanic stimulating nystagmus through 3-dimensional video-oculography technique. RESULTS: When negative electrode was attached to the intact side, The nystagmus on galvanic vestibular stimulation was directed to the negative electrode side in all patients and post galvanic stimulating nystagmus was directed to the opposite side but on functional loss side, we couldn't detect any nystagmus on galvanic vestibular stimulation and in 10 patients, post galvanic stimulating nystagmus was observed and directed to the intact side. CONCLUSIONS: Galvanic vestibular stimulation is very useful for evaluating the vestibular function and for diagnosing the vestibular disease.