ENT, ophthalmology and audiology Flashcards
How common are ENT problems in children?
Up to 50% GP consultations in winter
Unique morbidity - different physiology and anatomy in children
Congenital problems prominent
What is the embryology of the face?
Formed from pharyngeal pouches/branchial arches, pouches, and clefts that go on to form different structures of the face/neck
Can predict which structures are going to be abnormal due to which arch is developing abnormally
What is the embryology of the ear?
External ear - pinna, 6 hillocks of his (mesoderm) from 1st and 2nd branchial arch
Ear canal - ectoderm of 1st branchial cleft
Tympanic membrane - outer ectoderm, middle mesoderm, and inner endoderm from 1st pouch
- Pars tensa (lower 2/3) mesoderm, ectoderm, and endoderm (tough as contains mesoderm)
- Pars falccida (upper 1/3) only endoderm and ectoderm so more prone to damage
What is the anatomy of the ear?
Outer cartilaginous and bony structures
Middle - bones of hearing, eustachian tube, promontory, facial nerve, chorda tympani (encased in temporal bone)
Inner - hearing and balance organs (cochlear, utricle, saccular, vestibule)
Name 3 examples of congenital problems with the ear
Absence of auricle/micotia Atresia of outer ear canal Pre-auricular sinus Accessory auricles Prominent ears
What might outer ear problems mean?
Middle ear problems
When does the inner ear develop relative to the outer and middle?
Earlier
Name 2 congenital abnormalities of the middle ear
Abnormal ossicles - disruption of sound amplification mechanisms - develop from 1st and 2nd branchial arteries
Craniofacial syndromes - also associated with 1st and 2nd branchial artery problems
Name 2 congenital abnormalities of the inner ear
Schiebe (cochleosaccular) dysplasia
Mondini (cochlear) dysplasia
Bing-Seibenmann (vestibulocochlear) dyplasia - membranous labyrinth affected
Michel aplasia - complete labryinthine aplasia
How are children with hearing loss identified?
Newborn hearing screening programme
- Within 4-5 weeks of birth, before 3 months
- Automated otoacoustic emission, auditory brainstem responses
Look out if risk factors in prenatal history
Neonatal check obvious structural abnormalities
Early referral to audiology - care and support
Early cochlear implantation
If in doubt send for hearing tests
What are the risk factors for deafness in newborns?
FHx - first degree relative needing hearing aids in childhood Illness in mother - hepatitis, rubella Prematurity Jaundice Anatomical abnormalities
What are the symptoms and what is the treatment for otitis externa?
Painful, inflamed external auditory meatus +/- pinna
Treat with microsuction, opical antibiotics
How common is otitis media?
90% of children at some point
What are the symptoms of otitis media?
Eustachian tube dysfunction Fluid in middle ear - mucoid vs serous Often painless (can be sudden perforation) OME persistent for > 3 months Self-limiting Risk of complications (mastoiditis) Chronic - OME, cholesteatoma
How is otitis media treated?
Controversy about antibiotics
- Can give prescription for later on if symptoms haven’t abaited
What is OME?
AKA glue ear
Otitis media with effusion in under 12s
Hearing loss 25-30dB on 2 occasions at least 3 months apart
What are the options for OME treatment?
Conservative - do nothing, Eustachian tube autoinflation (otovent balloon)
Ventilation tubes - Grommets
Hearing aids - alternative to surgical intervention where surgery is CI or not acceptable
What are the possible causes of the chronically discharging ear?
Perforation - close it
Retraction pockets - ear drum collapses inwards due to problem with Eustachian tube and decreased pressure in inner ear
Chronic suppurative otitis media
Cholesteatoma
What is a cholesteatoma?
'Greasy tumour' Present repeat infection Offensive discharge - really smelly Can see perforation White material Acquired vs congenital
What are the complications associated with cholesteatoma and why?
As it grows it locally erodes - intracranial complications, implications to inner ear and middle ear structures, implications to facial nerve
How is cholesteatoma treated?
Remove surgically preserving hearing if possible or leaving scope for reconstruction as may have to remove structures that might be encased in structure - mastoidectomy - refer to ENT surgeon
What does the removal of the middle ear bone lead to?
Maximal conductive hearing loss 60dB
What is acute mastoiditis?
Boggy swelling behind ear
Abscess
Complication of spreading otitis media
How is acute mastoiditis treated?
Surgery
How are ear foreign bodies treated?
Have one go if co-operative child, parent, good light, and equipment
If unable to remove do under general anaesthetic referral to ENT - often no harm if left in ear for few days
If battery - emergency immediate ENT referral
What is the embryology of the nose?
Starts to develop at week 5 from olfactory placodes
Median and lateral processes
Thickening of ectoderm above stomodeum
What is different about babies and adults in breathing?
Babies are obligate nose breathers so if they have blocked noses they really struggle to breath
What can affect breathing?
Facial abnormalities
What is a common cause of breathing problems in neonates?
Neonatal rhinitis - inflammation of nasal mucosa - clear nose with saline - self-limiting
What are the choanal holes?
Holes at back of nose allowing for breathing
What is choanal atresia?
Failure of nose to canalise - bony or membranous - blocked nose
Bilateral is rare but neonatal emergency
How does choanal atresia present?
Cyclical going blue, crying going pink (opened mouth so mouth breathing), stop crying go blue
Usually identified in early hours of life
Cold spatula - no misting
Failure to pass NG
How is choanal atresia treated?
Secure airway - Guedel or McGovern nipple
Tertiary referral for dilatation +/- stent insertion
Name 2 syndromic craniofacial abnormalities
Down's Apert Pfeiffer Crouzon Treacher collins All have midface abnormalities
What might midface abnormalities lead to in terms of ENT and how might they be treated?
Problems with airway - obstructive sleep apnoea, midfacial hypoplasia
Might require tracheostomy (last resort) - elective trachea to cover facial surgery
How might foreign bodies in the nose present?
Unilateral nasal discharge espec if smelly
How do you treat foreign bodies in the nasal passage?
Have one go - co-operative parents, good light, proper equipment otherwise refer to ENT
Be wary of organic foreign bodies - risk of infection
How common is epistaxis in children?
50-60% by age of 5 have suffered from recurrent nose bleed
What causes epistaxis?
Nose richly supplied blood
Nose picking, inflammation, foreign body, trauma, bleeding diatheses
How is epistaxis treated?
ABC
Medical - topical naseptin, silver nitrate cautery
Surgical - electrocautery
What should you look out for in teenage boys with persistent nose bleeds and nasal obstruction?
Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma
What is the embryology of sinuses?
Maxillary sinuses exist at birth, grows to full size after second dentition
Ethmoids only 2-3 cells at birth
Frontals rudimentary or absent at birth (develops by 7-8 years)
Sphenoid recognised at birth
How common is sinusitis in children?
Rare
What should you consider if sinusitis is associated with nasal polyps?
CF
What is the most common presentation of complications of sinusitis in children?
Periorbital cellulitis
What is periorbital cellulitis?
Medical emergency
URTI followed by painful swollen eye with proptosis
Red colour vision (sign of optic nerve compromise)
Will lose sight in eye if left
Who needs to care for a child with periorbital cellulitis?
ENT, paeds, ophthalmology
How is periorbital cellulitis treated?
IV Abx
Incision and drainage of abscess - open or endoscopic
What comprises the throat?
Oral cavity - teeth/tongue
Pharynx - naso-/oro-/hypopharynx
Tonsils - palatine (adenoids), pharyngeal (tonsils)
Larynx
What is he difference in airway from an adult to a child’s?
Child airway more funnel shape but adults more cylindrical
Absolutely and relatively smaller
Narrowest point is subglottis whereas is vocal chords in adults
Loose mucosae
Less reserve
Name 2 congenital problems associated with the throat
Laryngeal atresia
Laryngomalacia
How is laryngeal atresia treated?
EXIT - ex utero intrapartum treatment procedure - tracheostomy whilst umbilical cord still attached to mother