ENT Flashcards
what is a cholesteatoma?
an abnormal accumulation of stratifies keratinising squamous epithelium growing in middle ear
what are the symptoms of a cholesteatoma?
- purulent otorrhea
- hearing loss
- headache
- vertigo (red flag)
- possible facial nerve palsy (red flag)
what causes a cholesteatoma/
- eustachian tube dysfunction = chronic negative pressure in middle ear
what are the signs of a cholesteatoma?
- ear discharge
- perforation of the tympanic membrane
- on otoscopy (yellow pus + keratin behind pars flaccida and lack of landmarks e.g. handle of malleus)
what is the main complication of a cholesteatoma?
- a facial nerve palsy
- bone erosion
- meningitis
- cerebral abcesses
what is the management of a cholesteatoma?
- canal wall up mastoidectomy (surgery)
why does the pars flaccida invert in early signs of a cholesteatoma?
due to pressure differences tympanic membrane is pulled and pars flaccida is weakest part of tympanic membrane
what is the presentation of acute sinusitis?
nasal blockage or nasal discharge with facial pain/pressure (or headache) and/or reduction of the sense of smell
*persistence of symptoms beyond 10 days, but less than 12 weeks.
how would you examine a patient to confirm a diagnosis of sinusitis?
inspect and palpate maxillofacial area to elicit swelling and tenderness
perform anterior rhinoscopy (=nasal inflammation, mucosal oedema, and purulent nasal discharge OR nasal polyps / septal deviaton )
Recording pulse rate, BP, and temp if person is systemically unwell.
how woudl you if acute sinusitis is bacterial or viral?
bacterial:
- symptoms last mroe than 10 days
- Discoloured or purulent nasal discharge
- Severe local pain
- A fever greater than 38°C.
- A marked deterioration after an initial milder form of the illness .
- Elevated ESR/CRP
what are the normal causes of referred pain to the ear?
- TMJ pain
- temporal arteritis
- dental pain
- pharyngitis, tonsilitis
- ramsay hunt syndrome (shingles)
- malignant otitis externa (osteomyelitis of the bone)
- bells palsy
- cellulitis / perichondritis
what can cause congenital deafness?
- preeclampsia
- gestational diabetes
- infections e.g. rubella, herpes simplex
- premature birth/low birth weight
- drug and alcohol use while pregannt
- genetic cuases e.g. down syndrome, Treacher Collins syndrome, Waardenburg syndrome
what treatment is given for congenital deafness?
Hearing aids
Cochlear implants – electrically stimulates the cochlear nerve
Grommets
If hearing can’t be improved, families and their children are taught to use sign language
what is menieres disease?
disorder affectign inner ear which can affect balance and hearing
what are the signs and symptoms of menieres disease
- fluctuating hearing loss
- episodes of vertigo
- tinnitus
- fullness in ear
- headach e
- dizziness
- N+V
what are the causes of menieres diseasE?
poor fluid drainage in your ear an autoimmune disease allergies a viral infection, such as meningitis a family history of Ménière's disease a head injury migraines
how do you diagnose menieres disease based on symptoms?
a least 2 sponteaneous episodes of vertigo lasting 20mins -12 hours
fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus and feeling of fullness in affected ear
sensorineural hearign loss determined by audiometry
must refer to ENT to confirm diagnosis
what investigations are doen to diagnose menieres disease?
Head adn neck examination audiogram Rombergs and unterbergers balance tests MRI Bloods - FBC,U&E's, TFT's, Lipid profile, Syphilis screen
what is the management of menieres disease?
to alleviate N+V and vertigo give prochlorperazine
avoid possible triggers (high salt diets, caffeine, excessive fatigue, stress, allergies, chocolate and alcohol)
medical ablation
for severe symptoms - IV labyrinthine sedatives + hydration
surgery - labyrinthectomy (only if have very little hearing left in affected ear)
what is presbycusis
age related hearing loss
usually bilateral, sensorineural hearing loss
what are the signs of presbycusis?
- diffuculty hearing others
- frequently asking people to repeat thigns
- listenign to music / tv at v high volume
= difficulty hearing on phone - finding it hard to keep up in convos
- feeling tired/ stressed havign to concnetrate in a convo
what investigatiosn need to be done to be diagnose menieres disease?
- webers and rinnes (sensorineural hearing loss)
- audiometry
- otoscope
what is the management of presbycusis?
- treat other causes (impacted wax, middle ear infection or effusion)
- hearing aids
- assisted hearign devies
- implantable devices
- learning to lip read
- emotional support
what is noise related hearing loss (NRHL)
cell death and damage to sterocilia in cochlear due to loud noises (repeated or one loud noise)
what are teh clinical features of NRHL?
- feelign of fullness in affected ear
- reduced hearing is affected ear
- tinnitus
what would webers and rinnes test show in people with NRHL?
webers - sensorineural hearing loss (sound lateralises to normal ear)
rinnes test is normal
what is the managemetn of NRHL?
protect ears from loud noise e.g. wear earplugs/headphones
hearing aids
possibly cochlear implants if v bad
what is otitis externa?
infection of the outer ear canal
what are the symptoms of otitis externa?
- itch in ear canal
- ear pain
- hearing loss due to external canal occlusion
- ear discharge
waht are teh signs of otitis externa on otoscope?
ear canal = red and oedematous
tympanic membrane erythema (usually hard to see as blocked by oedema dn discharge in ear canal)
conductive hearing loss (slight)
what is the managemtn for otitis externa?
- avoid damage to ears + keep them clean and dry
- paracetamol/ibuprofen
- acetic acid spray 2% or otimize
- consider topical ABX (gentamicin) with/wihtout topicl corticosteorid fro 7-14 days
- if immunocomprimised then consider prescribing oral ABX
what is acute otitis media?
acute otitis media is a middle ear ifnecton that most commonly affects children
what are teh signs an symptoms of acute otitis mediia?
Ear pain
Temperature
hearing loss slightly
Erythematous, bulging tympanic membrane seen on otoscope
Perforated tympanic membrane in some (feelign of releives pressure and pain and discharge occurs after)
management of acute otitis media?
mostly viral so patients will get better within 3 days to a week
ABX can be given if symptoms worseing over 24-48 hrs or patient severly unwell or has infection in both ears (5-7 days amoxicillin)
pain relief !!
what is mastoiditis?
a serioud bacteral infection that affects teh mastoid bone - usually a complication from otitis media