Page "Ménière's disease" Paragraph 32

Conversely, destructive surgeries are irreversible and involve removing entire functionality of most, if not all, of the affected ear.

The inner ear itself can be surgically removed via labyrinthectomy although hearing is always completely lost in the affected ear with this operation.

Alternatively, a chemical labyrinthectomy, in which a drug ( such as gentamicin ) that " kills " the vestibular apparatus is injected into the middle ear can accomplish the same results while retaining hearing.

In more serious cases surgeons can cut the nerve to the balance portion of the inner ear in a vestibular neurectomy.

Hearing is often mostly preserved, however the surgery involves cutting open into the lining of the brain, and a hospital stay of a few days for monitoring would be required.

Vertigo ( and the associated nausea and vomiting ) typically accompany the recovery from destructive surgeries as the brain learns to compensate.