ENT Flashcards
What are the 3 names of the ossicles?
Malleus
Incus
Stapes
Over what time frame can hearing loss be defined as sudden?
Over less than 72 hours
What is the result of webbers test in sensioneural hearing loss?
Louder in normal ear, quieter in the affected ear
What is the result of webbers test in conductive hearing loss?
Louder in the affected ear
What is the result of Rinne’s test in conductive hearing loss?
Is louder on the mastoid process than by the ear on the affected side.
Which drugs can cause sensioneural hearing loss?
Loop diruretics (furosemide)
Gentamicin
Chemotherapy drugs (cisplatin)
Which pitch of sounds does presbycusis affect?
High pitched sounds
What is the diagnostic criteria for sudden sensorineural hearing loss?
loss of at least 30 decibels in 3 consecutive frequencies
How can idiopathic SSNHL be managed?
Steroids
How may eustachian tube dysfunction present?
Reduced or altered hearing
Popping noises or sensations in the ear
Pain or discomfort
Tinnitus
What are the investigations for Eustachian tube dysfunction?
Tympanometry
Audiometry
nasopharyngoscopy
CT scan
Which procedure can be done to widen the eustachian tube?
Balloon dilatation eustachian tuboplasty
What is the inheritance pattern of otosclerosis?
Autosomal dominant
What is the typical presentation of otosclerosis?
Conductive hearing loss
Tinnitus
Woman in her 40s
Hearing loss is generally of lower-pitched sounds
Which investigations should be done for otosclerosis?
Audiometry
Typanometry
High resolution CT
What are the management options for otosclerosis?
Stapedotomy
Hearing aids
Which bacteria most commonly causes otitis media?
Streptococcus pneumoniae
what are the symptoms of otitis media?
ear pain
Reduced hearing
Fever
Cough, coryza and sore throat
What can be seen on otoscopy in otitis media?
Red, inflamed looking membrane
What is the first line antibiotic for otitis media and for how long?
Amoxicillin for 5-7 days
What are the 2 most common bacterial causes of otitis externa?
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Staphylococcus aureus
What are the 2 conditions which psuedomonas aeruginosa can cause?
Otitis externa and can colonise the lungs in patients with cystic fibrosis
What can pseudomonas aeruginosa be treated with?
Gentamycin and ciprofloxacin
What is the management of otitis externa?
Mild= acetic acid 2%
Moderate= topical antibiotics and steriod (eg neomycin and dexamethosone) aka otomize ear spray
What is the potentially life threatening complication of otitis externa and which populations does it occur in?
malinant otitis externa (osteomyelitis of the temporal bone)
Occurs in people with diabetes, people who are immunosuppressed or have HIV
What is objective tinnitus? How can you assess this?
The patient can objectively hear an extra sound within their head.
The sound can also be observable on examination by auscultating with a stethoscope around the ear
What does pulsatile tinnitus suggest?
May indicate a cardiovascular cause such as carotid artery stenosis
What are the suggested investigations for tinnitus?
Bloods to assess for underlying causes:
FBC (anaemia), glucose (diabetes), TSH (thyroid), lipids (hyperlipidaemia)
Audiology
Imaging (CT/MRI)
What is the fluid which fills the semicircular canals called?
Endolymph
What are the 4 most common causes of vertigo?
BPPV
Menieres disease
Vestibular neuronitis
Labrynthitis
What causes BPPV?
Crystals of calcium carbonate called otoconia becoming displaced in the semicircular canals
What manoeuvre can be used to diagnose BPPV?
Dix-hallpike
What are the symptoms pf menieres disease?
Unilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo and a sense of fullness in the ear
What causes acute vestibular neuronitis?
inflammation of the vestibular nerve, usually secondary to a viral infection
What causes labrynthitis?
Inflammation of the inner ear. Usually due to viral infection
Name 4 central causes of vertigo
Posterior circulation infarction
Tumour
MS
Vestibular migraine
Which test can be used to diagnose a peripheral cause of vertigo?
Head impulse test
Which test can be used to diagnose a central cause of vertigo?
Test of skew
Which medications can be used to manage symptoms of peripheral vertigo?
Prochlorperazine
Antihistamines
Which medication can be used to reduce attacks in menieres disease?
Betahistine
Which manoeuvre can treat BPPV?
Epley manoeuvre
Where do otoconia most often occur?
Posterior semi circular canal
What are the symptoms of vestibular neuritis?
Constant vertigo, nausea and vomiting and balance problems
Which symptoms differentiate neuronitis and labrynthitis?
Labrynthitis- loss of hearing and tinnitus
neuronitis- no loss of hearing or tinnitus
Which 2 conditions is labyrinthitis usually secondary to?
Otitis media or meningitis
Which disease are patients always offered an audiology assessment after recovering from?
Meningitis
What is the triad of symptoms in menieres disease?
Hearing loss
vertigo
tinnitus
What is the increased pressure in the inner ear called in menieres disease?
Endolymphatic hydrops
What is the pattern of vertigo in menieres disease?
20 minute episodes
What is the management for acute attacks of menieres?
Prochlorperazine
Antihistamines
What is the prophylaxis for menieres?
Betahistine