Middle Ear-Basic and Advanced COPY Flashcards
Hearing pathway
- Sound enters ear
- Tiny middle ear bones amplify sound
- Cochlea sorts sounds by frequency
- Nerve passes signal from cochlea to brain stem
- Signal travels through brain getting decoded along the way
- Auditory cortex recognizes, processes sound
Pathophysiology of Acute Otitis Media
- Viral Infection
Viral infection
- Eustachian tube swelling results in decrease in equalization between middle ear and atmospheric pressure
- Build up of mucus in middle ear
Pathophysiology of Acute Otitis Media
- Bacterial Infection
Bacterial infection
- Bacterial overgrowth in middle ear
- Spread of bacterial infection throughout middle ear and mastoid air cells
- Immune response will result in WBC invasion and pus formation
Acute Otitis Media
Identify the bacteria in a:
- Patient <3 months
Patient <3 months
- E. Coli
- Staph Aureus
______________________
Patient 3 months-14 years
- Strep pneumoniae
- H influenzae
- M catarrhalis
Patient >14 years
- Strep pneumoniae
- Group A-hemolytic strep (GAS)
- Staph Aureus
Acute Otitis Media
Identify the bacteria in a:
- Patient 3 months-14 years
Patient 3 months-14 years
- Strep pneumoniae
- H influenzae
- M catarrhalis
______________________
Patient <3 months
- E. Coli
- Staph Aureus
Patient >14 years
- Strep pneumoniae
- Group A-hemolytic strep (GAS)
- Staph Aureus
Acute Otitis Media
Identify the bacteria in a:
- Patient > 14 years
Patient >14 years
- Strep pneumoniae
- Group A-hemolytic strep (GAS)
- Staph Aureus
______________________
Patient <3 months
- E. Coli
- Staph Aureus
Patient 3 months-14 years
- Strep pneumoniae
- H influenzae
- M catarrhalis
What is the peak incidence of Acute Otitis Media?
Peak incidence between 6-18 months old
Which vaccines are responsible for the decline in Acute Otitis Media?
PCV7 and PCV13
What are the risk factors of Acute Otitis Media?
Risk Factors
Note: Peak incidence between 6-18 months old
- Family history (immediate and remote)
- Day Care
- Exposure to tobacco smoke/air pollution
_________________________
Clinical presentation
- Headache
- Apathy
- Otalgia (ear pain)
- +/- Otorrhea (ear discharge)
- Fever
- Irritability
- Disturbed/restless sleep
- Poor feeding
Physical exam
- Gold standard: Pneumatic Otoscopy
- Affected ear: Decreased hearing, lateralization to affected ear, BC>AC
- Otoscope exam:
- Color: pearly gray (normal) or pink/light red (consistent with otitis media)
- Position: neutral, retracted (common with ETD or effusion), bulging (indication of pus)
- Mobility: brisk, none, slight movement? (expect no movement and slight movement)
- Perforation: intact, single perforation, multiple?
Physical Exam-Evidence of current or recent URI
- Scleral injection
- Coryza
- Pharyngeal erythema
- Tonsillar swelling
- Cervical lymphadenopathy
- Skin rashes
What are the four diagnosis criteria for Acute Otitis Media in 6 months-12 year olds?
- New onset of otorrhea (not due to acute otitis externa); OR
- moderate-severe bulging of TM; OR
- mild bulging of TM AND recent otalgia; OR
- mild bulding of TM AND intense erythema of TM
What is the clinical presentation of Acute Otitis Media?
Clinical presentation
- Headache
- Apathy
- Otalgia (ear pain)
- +/- Otorrhea (ear discharge)
- Fever
- Irritability
- Disturbed/restless sleep
- Poor feeding
_________________________
Risk Factors
Note: Peak incidence between 6-18 months old
- Family history (immediate and remote)
- Day Care
- Exposure to tobacco smoke/air pollution
Physical exam
- Gold standard: Pneumatic Otoscopy
- Affected ear: Decreased hearing, lateralization to affected ear, BC>AC
- Otoscope exam:
- Color: pearly gray (normal) or pink/light red (consistent with otitis media)
- Position: neutral, retracted (common with ETD or effusion), bulging (indication of pus)
- Mobility: brisk, none, slight movement? (expect no movement and slight movement)
- Perforation: intact, single perforation, multiple?
Physical Exam-Evidence of current or recent URI
- Scleral injection
- Coryza
- Pharyngeal erythema
- Tonsillar swelling
- Cervical lymphadenopathy
- Skin rashes
What is the physical exam presentation of Acute Otitis Media?
Physical exam
- Gold standard: Pneumatic Otoscopy
- Affected ear: Decreased hearing, lateralization to affected ear, BC>AC
- Otoscope exam:
- Color: pearly gray (normal) or pink/light red (consistent with otitis media)
- Position: neutral, retracted (common with ETD or effusion), bulging (indication of pus)
- Mobility: brisk, none, slight movement? (expect no movement and slight movement)
- Perforation: intact, single perforation, multiple?
Physical Exam-Evidence of current or recent URI
- Scleral injection
- Coryza
- Pharyngeal erythema
- Tonsillar swelling
- Cervical lymphadenopathy
- Skin rashes
_________________________
Risk Factors
Note: Peak incidence between 6-18 months old
- Family history (immediate and remote)
- Day Care
- Exposure to tobacco smoke/air pollution
Clinical presentation
- Headache
- Apathy
- Otalgia (ear pain)
- +/- Otorrhea (ear discharge)
- Fever
- Irritability
- Disturbed/restless sleep
- Poor feeding
What other differential diagnoses should be on your list if you suspect Acute Otitis Media?
- Otitis externa
- Sinusitis
- Otitis media with effusion
- Eustachian tube dysfunction
- Cholesteatoma
Are any diagnostic studies required for Acute Otitis Media?
none; clinical diagnosis
Treatment of Acute Otitis Media
What are the 3 “severe” symptoms in deciding treatment?
- Temperature >39 degrees C (102.2 F)
- Otalgia > 48hrs
- Moderate or severe otalgia

Treatment of Acute Otitis Media
6 months-23 months
and
How do you reduce pain?
- Reduce pain with analgesics (acetaminophen) and anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen)

Treatment of Acute Otitis Media
Greater than/equal to 24 months
and
How do you reduce pain?
- Reduce pain with analgesics (acetaminophen) and anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen)

Treatment of Acute Otitis Media
Antiobiotics: Give first line, second line, and third line
and
How do you reduce pain?
First Line
Amoxicillin or Amoxicillin clavulanate (augmentin)
Second Line
Cefdinir or Cefuroxime
Third Line
Azithromycin (Z-pak) or Ceftriaxone
- Reduce pain with analgesics (acetaminophen) and anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen)

Acute otitis media
You have diagnosed your patient that is under 2 years old with acute otitis media. What is the follow up care?
Bring patient back in 8-12 weeks; look for Otitis Media w/Effusion
Acute otitis media
You have diagnosed your patient that is 2 years old or older with learning/language problems with acute otitis media. What is the follow up care?
Bring patient back in 8-12 weeks; look for Otitis Media w/Effusion
Acute otitis media
You have diagnosed your patient that is 2 years old or older with NO learning/language problems with acute otitis media. What is the follow up care?
No follow up necessary
Acute Otitis Media
You have diagnosed a patient with acute otitis media. What should you educate the patient about?
Inform patient to return to clinic/reach out if:
- TM rupture
- Symptoms worsen or persist beyond 48-72 hrs after initial visit
- Red flag: Erythematous swelling behind affected ear
- Red flag: spread to both ears in infant
- Red flag: Persistant high grade fever (>103 F)
Acute Otitis Media
Patient has been diagnosed with acute otitis media. What are 4 complications you might be worried about?
- Mastoiditis: infection of mastoid air cells (direct extension of middle ear)
- Bullous Myringitis: painful blister/bulla formation on the TM
- Recurrent infection: An infection that returns within 15 days of completion of treatment
- Chronic otitis media
Acute Otitis Media
Complication: Mastoiditis
- Describe
- Action plan?
- Infection of mastoid air cells (direct extension from middle ear)
Presentation
- Redness, tenderness, swelling, and fluctuation over the mastoid process
- Displacement of the pinna
Treatment
- IV Ceftriaxone and/or
- Mastoidectomy
Acute Otitis Media
Complication: Bullous Myringitis
- Describe
- Action plan?
- Painful blister/bulla formation on the TM
Presentation
- Painful blister/bulla formation on the TM
Treatment
- ABX
Acute Otitis Media
Complication: Recurrent Infection
- Describe
- Action plan?
- Return of infection within 15 days of completion of tx
Presentation
- Return of infection within 15 days of completion of tx
Treatment
- Ceftriaxone or
- levaquine
Acute Otitis Media
Complication: Chronic Otitis Media (more likely in adults due to ETD or anatomical issues)
- Describe
- Action plan?
Presentation
- Long standing, persistently training TM perforation
- Otalgia
- Aural fullness
- Decreased hearing
- Otorrhea (foul smelling, persistant)
- Flare up after URI or exposure to water
Physical Presentation
- TM perforation
- Polyp-formation
- Cholesteatoma
Treatment
- Long term aura ABX
- If flare up: may switch to oral
- Ensure EENT confirms
Case 1

Answer is 5
Case 2

Answer is 4
Case 3

Answer is 4
Case 4

Answer is 5
Sequelae of TM perforation
- CHL
- Recurrent infection
Surgical management of perforations
- Paper patch
- Fat graft
- Cartilage patch
- Skin graft
- Fascia or Perichondrium patch
Types of otitis media
- Acute Otitis Media (suppurative)
- Otitis Media Effusion (subacute)
- Chronic Serous Otitis Media
- Chrons Suppurative Otitis Media
- Chronic Non-suppurative Otitis media
reduction in the volume of the middle ear because of eustachian tube obstruction followed by absorption of the oxygen in the middle ear and subsequent retraction of the tympanic membrane medially.
atelectasis
Otosclerosis Treatment
- Fluoride
- Hearing aid
- stapedotomy
2 theories regarding Cholesteatoma
- Retraction theory
- Mucosal blanket theory
Sequelae of Cholesteatoma
- Hearing loss
- Recurrent infection
- LSCC dehiscence
- tegmen erosion
- meningitis
- facial nerve palsy
Identify:
- Recurrent infections
- Aural Polyps
Occult cholesteatoma