ENT (ears) Flashcards
What is perichondritis and what commonly causes this?
Inflammation of the pericondria which lies over the top of the pinna of the ear. Normally due to piercings or bites.
What is a pinna haematoma and what commonly causes this?
When blood accumulates between the cartliage of the ear and the overlying perichondrium. This is normally due to blunt trauma (e.g. often in rugby players)
How is a pinna haematoma managed?
Drainage and reapposition of the two layers (cartilage and perichondrium).
What happens if a pinna haematoma is left untreated?
A cauliflower deformity of the ear occurs.
How does wax/foreign bodies affect hearing?
Reduced hearing as stops the air getting to the tympanic membrane
What is otitis externa?
Inflammation of the external acoustic meatus.
What can cause otitis externa?
Bacterial infections
Fungal infections (e.g. candida)
Eczema
Dermatitis (contact or seborrhoeic)
using hearing aids + swimming are risk factors
How does otitis externa present?
Ear pain
Discharge
Itchiness
Conductive hearing loss
What is seen on examination in otitis externa?
Erythema and swelling (oedema) in the ear canal
Tenderness in the ear canal
Pus/discharge in canal
Lymphadenopathy in the neck or around the ear
How is otitis externa diagnosed?
Otoscopy
Ear swab
How is otitis externa managed?
Mild - acetic acid (over the counter as EarCalm).
Moderate - topical antibiotic and steroid - e.g. betametasone.
Severe - oral antibiotics - 7 day course of flucloxacillin or clarithromycin.
What is malignant otitis externa?
Severe and potentially life threatening form of otitis externa. This spreads to bones surrounding the ear canal and skull. This can progress to osteomyelitis of the temporal bone.
What are risk factors for malignant otitis externa?
Diabetes
Immunosuppressant medications (chemotherapy)
HIV
What are the symptoms of malignant otitis externa?
Persistant headache Severe ear pain Fever Discharge from ear Hearing loss
How is malignant otitis externa treated?
Emergency admission
IV antibiotics
Imaging to assess extent of infection
What are the complications associated with malignant otitis externa?
Facial nerve damage and palsy. Cranial nerve involvement. Meningitis. Intracranial thrombosis.
What are the symptoms of impacted ear wax?
Conductive hearing loss Discomfort in ear A feeling of fullness Pain Tinnitus / crackling
How can impacted ear wax be treated?
Ear drops - olive oil or sodium bicarb.
Microsuction.
What is a cholesteatoma?
Abnormal collection of squamous epithelia cells in the middle ear due to retraction of the tympanic membrane when there is Eustachian tube dysfunction. It can invade local tissues, nerves and erode bones. It can predispose people to infections.
How does a cholesteatoma present?
Foul discharge
Unilateral conductive hearing loss
If expanding may cause
- infection
- pain
- vertigo
- facial nerve palsy
How does a cholesteatoma look on otoscopy?
Retraction pocket
Granulation tissue and skin debris
Crust or keratin in the upper part of the tympanic membrane
May have tympanic perforation
White mass may be present behind the tympanic membrane (congenital)
What is the management for a cholesteatoma?
Surgical removal
What is eustachian tube dysfunction?
The tube between the middle ear and throat isn’t working properly or becomes blocked. This means the air pressure cannot equalise and fluid cannot drain. This means the middle ear fills with fluid.
What is the function of the eustachian tube?
Equalises the air pressure in the middle and drains fluid from the middle ear.
What can cause eustachian tube dysfunction?
Viral upper respiratory tract infection
Allergies (hayfever)
Smoking
Obstruction - adenoids, tumour
How does eustachian tube dysfunction present?
Reduced or altered hearing Popping noises or sensations in the ear A fullness sensation Pain or discomfort Tinnitus (symptoms get worse when the external air pressure changes - e.g. flying, scuba diving)
What investigations are done for eustachian tube dysfunction?
Tympanometry
Audiometry
CT scan
What is tympanometry?
A device is inserted into the ear and creates different air pressures. This sends sounds to the tympanic membrane and the amount of sound reflected back off the tympanic membrane is measured.
What is the management for eustachian tube dysfunction?
No treatment - sometimes resolves spontaneously.
Valsalva manoeuvre - hold the nose and blow out to inflate the eustachian tube.
Decongestant nasal sprays.
Antihistamines.
Steroid nasal spray.
Surgery if severe or persistent.
What is otosclerosis?
There is remodelling of the ossicles (small bones in the middle ear). This leads to a conductive hearing loss. Can be unilateral or bilateral.
- often the stapes becomes fixed to the oval window
Name the three ossicles
Malleus
Incus
Stapes
How does otosclerosis typically present?
Progressive hearing loss (particularly lower pitched sounds) Tinnitus May have a family history (can be inherited - autosomal dominant)
How is otosclerosis managed?
Conservative - hearing aids
Surgery - stapedectomy
Surgical (stapedectomy or stapedotomy)
What is stapedectomy?
Surgical removal of the stapes and replacement with prosthesis to transfer sound from the incus to the cochlear.
What is otitis media?
An infection of the middle ear. bacteria can enter from the throat through the eustachian tube (hence is often preceded by an upper respiratory tract infection)
What bacteria commonly causes otitis media?
Streptococcus.
Haemophilius influenzae.
Moraxella catarrhalis.
Staphylococcus aureus.
How does otitis media normally present?
Ear pain
Reduce hearing in affected ear
Feeling generally unwell - e.g. fever
Symptoms of a upper airway infection - e.g. cough/sore throat
If it affects the vestibular system it can cause vertigo
What does otitis media look like on otoscopy?
Bulging red inflamed looking tympanic membrane. If perforation has occurred then you may see discharge in the ear canal and a hole in the tympanic membrane
How is otitis media managed?
Antibiotics - first line is amoxicillin. If not clarithromycin (in penicillin allergy) or erythromycin (in pregnancy).
Analgesia
What is mastoiditis?
An infection that affects the mastoid bone behind the bone. It mainly affects children.
What are some possible complications of otitis media?
Otitis media with effusion
Hearing loss (normally temporary)
Perforated tympanic membrane
Labyrinthitis
The follow are rare: Mastoiditis Abscess Facial nerve palsy Meningitis
What are the symptoms of mastoiditis?
Redness, tenderness and pain behind the ear. Swelling behind the ear Discharge Fever Headache Hearing loss in affected ear
Normally after a severe ear infection
What can cause mastoiditis?
Otitis media
Cholesteatoma
What is tinnitus?
A persistent sound which if often described as ringing, buzzing, hissing or humming noise in the ear.
What is primary tinnitus?
Tinnitus that has no identifiable cause. It often occurs with sensorineural hearing loss
What can cause tinnitus?
Impacted ear wax Ear infection Meniere's disease Noise exposure Certain medications (e.g. loop diuretics, gentamycin, chemo drugs) Acoustic neuroma Trauma Multiple sclerosis Depression Some systemic conditions may be associated.
What is objective tinnitus and what can cause this?
When an actual extra sound is heard within the patients head.
This can be caused by
- carotid artery stenosis (pulsatile carotid bruit)
- aortic stenosis (radiating pulsatile murmurs)
- arteriovenous malformations (pulsatile)
- eustactian tube dysfunction (popping or clicking noises)
What assessments and investigations can be done for tinnitus?
Otoscopy Weber's and Rinne's test Bloods Audiology Imaging if necessary
What questions should be asked in a history of a patient presenting with tinnitus?
Unilateral or bilateral
Frequency and duration
Severity
Pulsatile or non pulsatile
Any hearing loss or excessive noise exposure
Any associated symptoms - vertigo, pain, discharge
What systemic conditions may be associated with tinitus?
Anaemia
Diabetes
Hypo or hyperthyroidism
Hyperlipidaemia
What are the red flags to look out for if someone presents with tinnitus?
Unilateral tinnitus Pulsatile tinnitus Hyperacusis (hypersensitivity to sounds) Associated unilateral hearing loss Associated sudden hearing loss Vertigo and dizziness Headaches or visual symptoms Neurological symptoms - e.g. facial nerve palsy
What is hyperacusis?
Hypersensitivity, pain or distress to environmental sounds.