Abstract
OBJECTIVE
Patients complaining of dizziness or vertigo may present to a variety of specialties before a diagnosis is made. The Guy's multidisciplinary balance one-stop clinic consists of two ear nose and throat consultants, three audiologists, and three vestibular physiotherapists. Patients are assessed by a vestibular physiotherapist and a full audiovestibular assessment performed. Patients are then discussed at a multidisciplinary team meeting. A diagnosis is made and treatment arranged. We report the diagnostic spread of patients attending this service in 2009.
METHOD
The records of all patients seen in the Guy's balance clinic were reviewed and their diagnoses recorded.
RESULTS
308 new patients were assessed by this service during 2009. Diagnoses include unilateral peripheral vestibular deficit (101), benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (50), multilevel vestibulopathy (38), vertiginous migraine (34), central (17), Ménière's disease (12), other otological pathology (11), psychogenic (10), drug induced (6), systemic (5), post-operative (3), cervicogenic (2), cardiac (2), other (17).
CONCLUSION
This one-stop service provides an efficient, thorough vestibular assessment and management pathway. The relative spread of diagnoses is similar to those found in other units and we would recommend this model to other units.