Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

Vertigo describes a symptom, typically caused by inner ear disorders, in which patients experience a feeling of spinning or dizziness. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common cause of vertigo from inner ear pathology that affects persons of any age. It is most common between the ages of 40 and 70 and occurs more frequently in females than males. Approximately 5.6 million emergency department visits in the United States each year are due to vertigo and related balance disorders. This article presents the pathology, signs and symptoms, diagnostic procedures, treatment, and nursing care for patients with BPPV. Treatment strategies focus on head repositioning maneuvers to displace otoliths out of the semicircular canals to the utricle to terminate the vertigo. The primary repositioning strategy is the Epley Maneuver. Vestibular suppressants are primarily used to manage nausea and vomiting. Surgical options may be explored for intractable vertigo.