The Difficult BPPV Patient

Session Description

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is the most common form of vertigo. Although benign in nature, BPPV can negatively impact health related-Quality of life (HRQoL), causing physical and psychological problems and impacting activities of daily living (ADLs). Patients with BPPV may also be at elevated fall risk with actual falls leading to further disability and morbidity. Additionally, these patients have different medical history and comorbidities, which may influence the etiology, type of maneuvers used, recurrence rates, outcomes of treatment, number of treatments required and associated symptoms. Treating BPPV patients, therefore, may not be a straight-forward process despite the well-described simple to perform maneuvers. Demographic analyses of BPPV hence, underscore the importance to better understand the profile of this group of patients in order to plan and make the most efficacious diagnosis- based rehabilitation strategies and recommendations to an at-risk population. The aim of this presentation is to present a review of the literature regarding the co-morbidities of a significant numbers of patients with BPPV. The presenter’s experience in the treatment of 15,000 BPPV patients since 1994, with specific strategies will be presented to provide attendees with guidance on management of more complex and challenging patients.