ENT Flashcards
What is meant by conductive hearing loss?
Failure of sound to be conveyed from the external ear to the inner ear
List common aetiology for conductive hearing loss
Wax Foreign body Otitis externa Eardrum perforation Ossicular damage (otosclerosis)
What is meant by sensorineural hearing loss?
Failure of sound to be transduced from inner ear
List common aetiology for sensorineural hearing loss
Congenital
Ageing (presbycusis)
Meniere’s disease
Vestibular schwannoma
A positive Rinne’s test is a normal finding. True/False?
True
Sound/vibration should be louder over the auditory canal compared to bone conduction
If sound localises to the affected ear in a Weber’s test, what type of hearing loss is this?
Conductive
If sound localises to the unaffected ear in a Weber’s test, what type of hearing loss is this?
Sensorineural
A patient with a +ve Rinne test in both ears and sound localising to the left ear on Weber’s test indicates what type of hearing loss?
Right sensorineural hearing loss
A patient with a +ve Rinne test in the right ear and sound localising to the left ear on Weber’s test indicates what type of hearing loss?
Left conductive hearing loss
Other than Rinne and Weber hearing tests, what other investigations could you do for hearing loss?
Pure tone audiometry
(child normal = 0-15dB, adult normal = 0-20dB)
Tympanogram measures middle ear pressure
(normal = bell-shaped curve)
What is otitis externa?
Inflammation of the skin of the ear canal/external ear
List aetiology/risk factors for otitis externa
Moisture, humidity Swimming Trauma (scratching, cleaning) Absence of wax Narrow ear canal Hearing aids Pseudomonas, Staph aureus
List clinical features of otitis externa
Severe pain, tender pinna and tragus Auricular lymphadenopathy Minimal discharge/debris Swollen ear canal Conductive hearing loss
Outline management of otitis externa
Aural toilet
Topical gentamicin + steroid drops
Strip of ribbon soaked in glycerine-ichthammol/aluminium acetate
What is barotrauma/aerotitis?
Occluded Eustachian tube does not allow middle ear pressure to equalise, particularly during aircraft descent or diving
List clinical features of aerotitis
Severe pain as drum indraws Bleeding Vertigo Tinnitus Deafness
Outline management of aerotitis
Avoid flying with URTI
Nasal decongestants (xylometazoline)
Repeated yawns/swallows/jaw movements
Valsalva maneuvre
List clinical features of TMJ dysfunction
Earache
Facial pain
Joint clicking/popping
Stress, psychological impact
Outline management of TMJ dysfunction
NSAID (diclofenac) Orthodontic prostheses Cognitive behavioural therapy Physiotherapy Acupuncture Surgery
What is otitis media?
Inflammation of the middle ear cavity
List aetiology/risk factors for otitis media
Children Viral Bacterial: H. influenzae, Pneumococcus, Moraxella Blocking of Eustachian tube Preceding URTI Bottle feeding Smoking/passive smoking
List clinical features of otitis media
Acute: rapid onset earache, fever, irritability, vomiting
Chronic: fluid discharge lasting several months
Purulent discharge
Crescendo-decrescendo otalgia
Tender mastoid
Conductive hearing loss
Describe the appearance of the tympanic membrane in otitis media
Bulging, opaque eardrum
Outline management of otitis media
NSAID
Amoxicillin for up to 10 days if unresolving
What is cholesteatoma?
Presence of keratinising stratified squamous epithelium in the middle ear
List aetiology/risk factors for cholesteatoma
Congenital
Eardrum perforation, retracted eardrum
Down’s syndrome
Turner’s syndrome
List clinical features of cholesteatoma
Foul-smelling discharge Deafness Headache Cheesy discharge Itch Tinnitus Vertigo Facial paralysis, meningitis (indicates cerebral infiltration)
Outline management of cholesteatoma
Surgical excision
Good ear hygiene
What is otitis media with effusion/glue ear?
Fluid in the middle ear cavity due to Eustachian tube dysfunction or maldevelopment
List aetiology/risk factors for glue ear
URTI Oversized adenoids Narrow nasopharynx Boys Atopy Down's syndrome Cleft palate Passive smoking
List clinical features of glue ear
Conductive hearing loss Impact on learning and development Exudate Tinnitus Irritability
What would the eardrum look like in glue ear?
May be retracted or bulging
Bubbles/fluid level seen
Reduced drum mobility
Outline management of glue ear
Monitor for up to 3 months
Oral/topical steroid
Grommet insertion +/- adenoidectomy
What is tinnitus?
Sensation of ringing/buzzing in the ear due to altered central processing and/or nerve damage
List aetiology/risk factors for tinnitus
Any ear disease Presbycusis Noise-induced Trauma Otosclerosis Meniere's disease CVS disease Psych disturbance Alcoholism Drugs (aspirin, loop diuretics, metformin, quinine)
If someone presents with unilateral tinnitus, what scan must you do?
MRI to exclude schwannoma
Outline management of tinnitus
Mainly supportive Hearing aids Cognitive behavioural therapy Tinnitus training/counselling Hypnotics, melatonin Baclofen
List aetiology/risk factors for vertigo
Meniere's disease BPPV Vestibular failure/insufficiency/neuritis Labyrinthitis Acoustic neuroma Multiple sclerosis Head injury Trauma Drugs (gentamicin, diuretics, co-trimoxazole, metronidazole)
What is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)?
Displacement of otoconia in (posterior) semicircular canal causes transient dizziness
List aetiology/risk factors for BPPV
Idiopathic Middle ear disease Head injury Otosclerosis Viral disease
List clinical features of BPPV
Dizziness upon sudden rotational movement
Lasts up to 30 seconds
May feel nauseous
Nystagmus on Hallpike test
Outline management of BPPV
Epley manoeuvre
Self-limiting
Physiotherapy, Brandt-Dorff exercise
Reduce alcohol intake
What is Meniere’s disease?
Dilation of endolymphatic spaces of the membranous labyrinth causes attacks of dizziness
List clinical features of Meniere’s disease
Unpredictable vertigo Attacks in clusters May last up to 12 hours Nausea, vomiting Feeling of fullness in the ear Bilateral tinnitus Sensorineural hearing loss
Outline management of Meniere’s disease
Acute: cyclizine, Betahistine, cinnarizine Gentamicin grommet Reduce salt and caffeine Operative decompression, labyrinthectomy
Which type of infection in particular does vestibular neuritis usually follow from?
Herpes simplex type 1
List clinical features of vestibular neuritis
Sudden vertigo
Vomiting
May last days
Deafness if labyrinthitis
Outline management of vestibular neuritis
Cyclizine
Usually improves within days/weeks
Methylprednisolone may help
What is acoustic neuroma/vestibular schwannoma?
Slow-growing benign tumour of CN VIII vestibular branch, usually found at the cerebellopontine angle
List clinical features of acoustic neuroma
Progressive ipsilateral tinnitus
Sensorineural hearing loss
Facial numbness, pain