RecruitingNot Applicable

Testing the Epley Maneuver for Treating Dizziness in the Emergency Department

Lebanon118 participantsStarted 2024-08-01

Plain-language summary

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the efficacy of the Epley maneuver versus a sham maneuver in treating patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with BPPV. The main questions that the study aims to answer are: * What is the mean difference in Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) scores between patients receiving the Epley maneuver and those receiving the sham maneuver 3 days after enrollment? * What is the immediate response (using a 0-10-point Likert scale) of patients in each arm of the study? * What is the proportion of patients who, despite agreeing to participate, were unable to complete the full Epley maneuver due to symptom severity? Researchers will compare the Epley maneuver arm to the sham maneuver arm to see if the Epley maneuver is more effective in reducing BPPV symptoms. Participants will: * Undergo either the Epley maneuver or a sham maneuver. * Complete the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) questionnaire at baseline and 3 days post-discharge. * Patients with insufficient improvement in the sham maneuver group will receive a rescue Epley maneuver. * Have their vertigo severity assessed using a 0-10 point Likert scale at baseline, immediately and post-maneuver.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria * Age: above 18 years old * Patients presenting to the ED with symptoms of BPPV (single or recurrent episodes of vertigo lasting up to 2 minutes) and a positive DHT (episode of vertigo associated with torsional upbeating nystagmus) indicating a posterior semicircular canal BPPV. * Patients who are able to understand and provide a signed informed consent to participate in the study Exclusion Criteria * Severe cervical diseases (e.g., soft tissue disorders, cervical spondylosis, prolapsed intervertebral disks and severe rheumatoid arthritis with cervical instability …) * Unstable cardiovascular diseases (e.g., hemodynamically unstable, decompensated heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, decompensated valvular diseases, severe arrhythmias …) * Suspected vertebrobasilar diseases (e.g., cerebellar signs, vision changes, numbness or tingling in the extremities, slurred speech, changes in mental status, confusion …) * History of high-grade carotid stenosis * Recent (\<24 hours) intake of aminoglycosides, chemotherapeutic agents, cyclophosphamide, loop diuretics, or quinines * Patients with peripheral causes of vertigo other than BPPV (such as Meniere's disease or vestibular neuritis) * Patients with central causes of vertigo (vestibular migraine, Arnold Chiari malformation, history of CNS tumor(s), multiple sclerosis) * Patients with focal deficits on neurological exam * Patients with an episode of vertigo lasting more than 2 minutes * Patients with a negat…

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Efficacy of Epley

Timeframe: 3 days

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07111000

SponsorAmerican University of Beirut Medical Center

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-07-22

Contact for this trial

Eveline Hitti, MD

00961-1-350000 eh16@aub.edu.lb

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) trials