The following statements and flowchart were adapted from the Guidelines from American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery which received the highest scores as regards the currency, contents, and quality.
Recommendations statements
Statement topic |
Egyptian Recommendation |
Evidence Quality |
Strength of Recommendations |
Study type |
Reference |
1.Diagnosis of posterior semicircular canal BPPV |
Clinicians should diagnose posterior semicircular canal BPPV when vertigo associated with torsional, up beating nystagmus is 45° to one side and neck extended 20° with the affected ear down. The maneuver should be repeated with the opposite ear down if the initial maneuver is negative. |
Moderate |
Strong Recommendation |
Diagnostic study with minor limitation |
Honrubia V, Baloh RW, Harris MR, et al. Paroxysmal positional vertigo syndrome. Am J Otol. 1999;20:465-470. |
2.Diagnosis of lateral (horizontal) semicircular canal BPPV |
If the patient has a history compatible with BPPV and the Dix-Hallpike test exhibits horizontal or no nystagmus, the clinician should perform, or refer to a clinician who can perform, a supine roll test to assess for lateral semicircular canal BPPV. |
Moderate |
Strong Recommendation |
Diagnostic study with minor limitation |
Baloh RW, Jacobson K, Honrubia V. Horizontal semicircular canal variant of benign positional vertigo. Neurology. 1993;43:2542-2549. |
3.Differential diagnosis |
Clinicians should differentiate, or refer to a clinician who can differentiate, BPPV from other causes of imbalance, dizziness, and vertigo. |
Low |
Strong Recommendation |
Observational study |
Kentala E, Rauch SD. A practical assessment algorithm for diagnosis of dizziness. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2003;128:54-59. |
4.Modifying factors |
Clinicians should assess patients with BPPV for factors that modify management ,by the recommended repositioning maneuvers, including impaired mobility or balance, central nervous system disorders, a lack of home support, and/or increased risk for falling. |
Low |
Conditional Recommendation |
Observational study |
Lawson J, Johnson I, Bamiou DE, et al. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: clinical characteristics of dizzy patients referred to a Falls and Syncope Unit. QJM. 2005;98:357-364. |
5.Radiographic testing |
Clinicians should not obtain radiographic imaging in a patient who meets diagnostic criteria for BPPV. |
Low |
Strong Recommendation (against) |
Observational study |
Turski P, Seidenwurm D, Davis P; American College of Radiology. Expert Panel on Neuroimaging: Vertigo and Hearing Loss. Reston, VA: American College of Radiology; 2006. |
6.Vestibular testing |
Clinicians should not order laboratory vestibular testing in a patient who meets diagnostic criteria for BPPV in the absence of additional vestibular signs and/or symptoms inconsistent with BPPV that warrant testing. Vestibular testing may be ordered in case of recurrence, persistence of complaint after repositioning manoeuvre or in the presence of atypical nystagmus . |
Low |
Conditional Recommendation (against) |
Observational study |
Baloh RW, Honrubia V, Jacobson K. Benign positional vertigo: clinical and oculographic features in 240 cases. Neurology. 1987;37:371-378 |
7.Repositioning procedures as initial therapy (a) |
Clinicians should treat, or refer to a clinician who can treat, patients with posterior canal BPPV with a canalith repositioning procedure. Epley’s or Semont’s are equivocally effective for posterior canal BPPV. Semont’s is recommended in cupulolithiasis than Epley’s. |
High |
Strong Recommendation |
Well designed RCT and systemic review with meta-analysis |
Hilton MP, Pinder DK. The Epley (canalith repositioning) manoeuvre for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;(12):CD003162.
Prim-Espada MP, De Diego-Sastre JI, Pérez-Fernández E. Meta-analysis on the efficacy of Epley’s manoeuvre in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Neurologia. 2010;25:295-299. |
8.Repositioning procedures as initial therapy (b) |
The barbecue roll maneuver or Gufoni maneuver appear moderately effective for the geotropic form of lateral semicircular canal BPPV. |
Moderate |
Conditional Recommendation |
RCT |
Kim JS, Oh S-Y, Lee S-H, et al. Randomized clinical trial for geotropic horizontal canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Neurology. 2012;79:700-707. |
9.Post procedural restrictions |
Clinicians may not routinely recommend post procedural postural restrictions after canalith repositioning procedure for posterior canal BPPV. Post procedural postrural restriction might be recommended in selected cases as in failure (or repeated failure) of the repositioning maneuvers, recurrent cases, or cases associated with other vestibular pathology as MD or vestibular Migraine. |
High |
Conditional Recommendation (against) |
Diagnostic study with minor limitation
Well-designed RCT |
Roberts RA, Gans RE, DeBoodt JL, et al. Treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: necessity of postmaneuver patient restrictions. J Am Acad Audiol. 2005;16:357-366.
Balikci HH, Ozbay I. Effects of postural restriction after modified Epley maneuver on recurrence of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Auris Nasus Larynx. 2014;41:428-431. |
10.Number of CRP repetitions |
1-2 sessions would resolve the condition in 87-100% of patients. A minority would require a 3ed trial. Otherwise persistent BPPV is suspected. |
Low |
Strong Recommendation |
Observational study |
Kentala E, Pyykkö I. Vertigo in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Acta Otolaryngol Suppl. 2000;543:20-22.
|
11.If there is difficulty in performing successful maneuver |
Clinicians should start with CRP (or modified) even in those patients who are very obese; have severe cervical or lumber discs; or upon patient’s preference. In the latter case patients should be instructed to avoid activities that may increase the risk of falls until symptoms resolve. |
Low |
Strong Recommendation |
Observational study |
Kerber KA. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: opportunities squandered. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2015;1343:106-112. |
12.Observation as initial therapy |
Clinicians may offer observation with follow up only if there is difficulty in performing successful maneuver after trials in some patients as : very obese; severe cervical or lumber discs; or upon patient’s preference not to repeat the maneuver. |
Low |
Strong Recommendation |
Observational study |
Kerber KA. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: opportunities squandered. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2015;1343:106-112.
|
Statement topic |
Egyptian Recommendation |
Evidence Quality |
Strength of Recommendations |
The statement is based up on: |
|
13.Vestibular rehabilitation |
VR should be considered an option in the treatment of BPPV rather than a recommended first-line treatment modality. Home based Brandt-Daroff exercises is indicated in patients with persistent dizziness or imbalance after successful CRP or patients who refuse CRP.A more comprehensive customized VR program is indicated in patients with other vestibular pathology or with comorbid impairments that require balance rehabilitation specially in elderly. |
Moderate |
Strong Recommendations |
Systemic review |
Hillier SL, Hollohan V. Vestibular rehabilitation for unilateral peripheral vestibular dysfunction. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007;(4):CD005397. |
14.Medical therapy |
Clinicians should not treat BPPV with vestibular suppressant medications such as antihistamines and/ or benzodiazepines. Exceptions: Prior to CRP in patients with severe nausea and/or vomiting, or patients previously manifested severe nausea and/or vomiting during testing. |
Moderate |
Strong Recommendation (against) |
Diagnostic study with minor limitation |
Fujino A, Tokumasu K, Yosio S, et al. Vestibular training for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: its efficacy in comparison with antivertigo drugs. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1994;120:497-504. |
14.Outcome assessment |
Clinicians should reassess patients within an initial period of observation following the canalith repositioning procedure ( 40 minutes up to one week) to document resolution, need for repetition of CRP session or persistence of symptoms. |
Very low |
Strong Recommendation |
Observational study |
Sekine K, Imai T, Sato G, et al. Natural history of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and efficacy of Epley and Lempert maneuvers. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2006;135:529-533. |
15.Evaluation of treatment failure |
Clinicians should evaluate, or refer to a clinician who can evaluate, patients with persistent symptoms for unresolved BPPV and/or underlying peripheral vestibular or or central nervous system disorders. |
Low |
Strong Recommendation |
Observational study |
Buttner U, Helmchen C, Brandt T. Diagnostic criteria for central versus peripheral positioning nystagmus and vertigo: a review. Acta Otolaryngol. 1999;119:1-5. |
16.Patient Education |
Clinicians should educate patients regarding the impact of BPPV on their safety, the potential for disease recurrence, and the importance of follow-up. |
Low |
Strong Recommendation |
Observational study |
Brandt T, Dieterich M. Vestibular falls. J Vestib Res. 1993;3:3-14. |