ENT Flashcards
HEARING LOSS
What are the two types of hearing loss and briefly explain them?
- Conductive = sound is not conducted to the inner ear due to problem of external or middle ear
- Sensorineural = sound is conducted to inner ear but issue at the sensory organ (cochlear) or vestibulocochlear nerve
HEARING LOSS
What are the causes of conductive hearing loss?
- Wax impaction
- Otitis media with effusion
- Perforated tympanic membrane
- Otosclerosis
- Cholesteatoma
HEARING LOSS
What are the causes of sensorineural hearing loss?
- Presbycusis = most common (age-related), gradual + insidious (symmetrical high frequency hearing loss)
- Meniere’s disease
- Congenital infections = rubella, CMV
- Acoustic neuroma
- Drugs = loop diuretics, aminoglycosides
HEARING LOSS Explain the axis of an audiogram What is normal? What indicates sensorineural hearing loss? What indicates conductive hearing loss? What indicates mixed hearing loss?
- X-axis is frequency (Hz) going low to high, Y-axis is volume (dB) with top quiet to bottom loud
- Anything <20dB line
- BOTH air + bone conduction impaired (>20dB)
- ONLY air conduction >20dB, bone is normal
- BOTH air + bone impaired but AIR WORSE by >15dB
HEARING LOSS
What two bedside tests would you do in hearing loss and briefly explain them?
- Rinne’s = place tuning fork on mastoid then external acoustic meatus
- Weber’s = place tuning fork on forehead in midline
HEARING LOSS
What are you looking for in Rinne’s test?
- Normal = louder at EAM
- Conductive = louder at mastoid
- Sensorineural = both decreased
HEARING LOSS
What are you looking for in Weber’s test?
- Normal = vibrations equal in both ears
- Conductive = louder in ABNORMAL ear
- Sensorineural = louder in NORMAL ear
HEARING LOSS
What is the management of hearing loss?
- Conductive = resolve issue (e.g., syringe ears, treat infection)
- Sensorineural = hearing aids, cochlear implants if profound hearing loss >95dB
OTOSCLEROSIS
What is the pathophysiology of otosclerosis?
- Autosomal dominant condition with replacement of normal bone by vascular spongy bone mainly affecting base of stapes where it attaches to oval window causing stiffening preventing it from transmitting sound
OTOSCLEROSIS
What is the clinical presentation of otosclerosis?
- Progressive conductive deafness at 20–40y
- Tinnitus
- Audiometry = Carhart’s notch (false depression of bone conduction at 2000Hz)
OTOSCLEROSIS
What is the management of otosclerosis?
- Hearing aid
- Stapedectomy
SSNHL
What is sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL)?
What is the most common cause?
What are some other causes?
- Sensorineural hearing loss over <72h
- Idiopathic
- Meniere’s disease, ototoxic meds, MS, stroke, acoustic neuroma
SSNHL
How do you manage SSNHL?
- URGENT ENT referral
- Audiometry to establish Dx
- CT/MRI head if ?stroke/acoustic neuroma
- ALL cases receive high dose PO corticosteroids
OTITIS MEDIA
What is otitis media?
What are some causes?
- Acute infection of middle ear, v common in paeds
- Mostly bacterial = strep pneumoniae #1, H. influenzae, moraxella catarrhalis
OTITIS MEDIA
What is the clinical presentation of otitis media?
What would you find on examination?
- Recent viral URTI Sx
- Otalgia = tugging/rubbing ear in paeds
- Conductive hearing loss
- Otoscopy = bright red + bulging tympanic membrane (loss of light reflex)
OTITIS MEDIA
What are the potential sequelae of otitis media?
- Otitis media with perforation
- Otitis media with effusion
- Labyrinthitis
OTITIS MEDIA
How does otitis media with perforation present?
What can happen if unresolved?
- Purulent otorrhoea clinically + on otoscopy
- Chronic suppurative otitis media = perforation of tympanic membrane with otorrhoea for >6w
OTITIS MEDIA
What are some complications of otitis media?
- Mastoiditis
- Meningitis
- Brain abscess
- Facial nerve paralysis
OTITIS MEDIA
What is the first line management of otitis media?
What might be considered afterwards?
- Supportive management with analgesia, safety net to seek help if no improvement after 3d
- First line Abx = amoxicillin 5–7d (erythromycin if pen allergic/pregnant)
OTITIS MEDIA
When would you consider immediate antibiotic prescription?
- Sx ≥4d + not improving
- Systemically unwell
- Immunocompromised
- <2y and bilateral
- Otitis media with perforation
OME
What is otitis media with effusion (OME)?
What are some risk factors for OME?
- Fluid collection within the middle ear space without signs of acute infection.
- Male, siblings with glue ear, trisomy 21, parental smoking
OME
What is the clinical presentation of OME?
- # 1 cause of conductive hearing loss in paeds
- May have secondary problems such as speech + language delay
- Otoscopy = dull + retracted TM with visible fluid level
- Audiometry = flat tympanogram
OME
What is the management of OME?
- Watchful waiting for 3m
- Grommet insertion to allow fluid to drain
- Adenoidectomy
OTITIS EXTERNA
What is otitis externa?
What are some risk factors?
- Infection of outer ear
- Increased water contact (swimming), cotton buds, hearing aids, DM
OTITIS EXTERNA
What is the most common cause of otitis externa?
What are some other causes?
- Bacterial = pseudomonas aeruginosa #1, staph. aureus
- Derm = seborrhoeic dermatitis, contact dermatitis
OTITIS EXTERNA
What is the clinical presentation of otitis externa?
- Otalgia (esp. on tragus palpation), otorrhoea, itch
- Otoscopy = red, swollen, eczematous canal with discharge
OTITIS EXTERNA
What is a key complication of otitis externa?
- Malignant otitis externa = infection spreads to bones surrounding the ear canal + skull + can progress to osteomyelitis of the temporal bone
OTITIS EXTERNA
What patients are susceptible to malignant otitis externa?
How does it present?
What are some potential complications?
- Immunocompromised (DM, HIV)
- Severe otalgia, otorrhoea, temporal headaches
- Facial nerve palsy, meningitis, death
OTITIS EXTERNA
What is the management of malignant otitis externa?
- Non-resolving otitis externa with worsening pain = URGENT ENT REFERRAL
- CT scan
- IV Abx to cover pseudomonas (ciprofloxacin)
OTITIS EXTERNA
What is the first line management of otitis externa?
What if it doesn’t respond?
What is the second line management of otitis externa?
- Topical Abx ± steroid (may need delivery via pope wick)
- ENT referral
- PO flucloxacillin if infection spreading, ?swab, ?antifungal
CHOLESTEATOMA
What is cholesteatoma?
- Hyperproliferative non-malignant growth of keratinising squamous epithelial cells of the middle ear causing local destruction
CHOLESTEATOMA
What is the epidemiology of cholesteatoma?
- Most common patients 10–20y
- Majorly associated with cleft palate
CHOLESTEATOMA
What is the clinical presentation of cholesteatoma?
- Painless, foul-smelling, brown, non-resolving otorrhoea
- Unilateral hearing loss (classically conductive) + tinnitus
- Local invasion > vertigo (semi-circular canals), facial nerve palsy
CHOLESTEATOMA
What investigations would you do in cholesteatoma?
- Otoscopy = white attic crust seen in uppermost part of ear drum
- CT head (temporal bone) to confirm diagnosis + plan for surgery
CHOLESTEATOMA
When would you emergency admit someone with cholesteatoma?
What is the general management?
- Local invasion or neuro Sx
- ENT referral for surgical removal
BPPV
What causes benign positional paroxysmal vertigo (BPPV)?
What is the pathophysiology?
- Canaliths (crystals) in the semi-circular canals
- Normally found in utricle of inner ear but can dislodge into semi-circular canals due to age, infection, head trauma or DM
- On movement, crystals cause abnormal movement of endolymph in canal > vertigo
BPPV
What is the clinical presentation of BPPV?
- Vertigo which is triggered by change in head position ± nausea
- Episodes last for up to 1 minute
BPPV
How is BPPV diagnosed?
- Dix-Hallpike Manoeuvre
- Pt sits upright, head turned 45º to test side, lie down rapidly with head overhanging edge of bed for 1m whilst observing eyes
- Positive = vertigo + rotatory nystagmus
BPPV
How is BPPV managed?
- Epley manoeuvre
- Teach patients exercises = vestibular rehabilitation (Brandt-Daroff exercises)
BPPV
Describe the Epley manoeuvre
- Dix-Hallpike then remain 1m
- Rotate head 90º other side for 1m
- Roll onto shoulder head is facing, rotate head so looking to floor for 1m
- Slowly sit up, tilt head down tucking chin into chest for 1m
MENIERE’S DISEASE
What is the pathophysiology of Meniere’s disease?
What age group does it classically affect?
- Excessive pressure + progressive dilation of the endolymphatic system in the labyrinth of the inner ear
- More common in middle-age adults
MENIERE’S DISEASE
What is the classic triad for clinical presentation of Meniere’s disease?
- Triad of UNILATERAL recurrent vertigo, tinnitus + (low freq) sensorineural hearing loss
- Episodes last mins–hours + often occur in clusters
MENIERE’S DISEASE
Other than the classic triad, what else might occur in Meniere’s disease?
- Sensation of aural fullness
- Nystagmus
- Positive Romberg’s
MENIERE’S DISEASE
How is Meniere’s disease diagnosed and what should you tell patients?
What is the acute management of Meniere’s disease?
What is the prophylactic management of Meniere’s disease?
- ENT referral to confirm, tell them to inform DVLA + stop driving until good symptom control
- Buccal/IM prochlorperazine
- Betahistine + vestibular rehabilitation exercises
VESTIBULAR NEURONITIS
What is vestibular neuronitis?
What is it associated with?
- Inflammation of the vestibular nerve
- Viral URTI
VESTIBULAR NEURONITIS
How does vestibular neuronitis present?
What does it importantly not present with?
- Recurrent vertigo attacks lasting hours–days
- N+V, horizontal nystagmus
- NO hearing loss or tinnitus
VESTIBULAR NEURONITIS
What key exam sign is positive in vestibular neuronitis and explain it?
- +ve head impulse test (sign of peripheral vertigo)
- Pt focuses on examiner’s nose entire time, head rapidly jerked in 1 direction
- Normal vestibular system or CENTRAL vertigo = eyes fixed on nose
- Abnormal = eyes saccade (rapidly move back/forth) then fix back