Middle Ear Conditions Flashcards

1
Q

Acute otitis media

A
  • Frequently precipitated by impaired function of Eustachian tube, hence leading to retention and suppuration of retained fluids
  • Ascending infection from nasopharynx up Eustachian tube to middle ear
  • Acute suppurative infectious process with infected middle ear fluid and inflammation of the mucosal lining of the middle ear
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2
Q

Causative organisms for acute otitis media

A
  • Strep Pneumonia
  • Moraxella Catarrhalis
  • H. Influenza
  • Staph aureus
  • Strep pyogenes
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3
Q

Clinical features of acute otitis media

A
  • Preceding Hx of URTI
  • Otalgia (Relieved by TM perforation)
  • Otorrhea (If TM perforated)
  • Conductive hearing loss
  • Fever
  • Toxic-looking
  • Erythematous and bulging TM, pus with air-fluid level behind TM
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4
Q

Complications of acute otitis media

A

Ear
- TM perforation (Causes ear pain relief and otorrhea)
- Chronic suppurative otitis media
- Mastoiditis (If spreads posteriorly)
- Labyrinthitis (If spreads medially into inner ear)
- Tympanosclerosis
- Conductive hearing loss

CNS
- Meningitis
- Brain abscess
- Facial palsy
- Vertigo
- SNHL (From labyrinthitis)
*Won’t cause labyrinthine fistula as pus doesn’t have enough mass effect to cause erosion into bone, usually cholesteatoma or tumour (Rare)

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5
Q

Management of acute otitis media

A
  • Self-limiting so conservative (analgesia, anti-pyretics) unless cx
  • PO Augmentin / Amoxicillin (1st in Paeds) / Clarithromycin (Klacid)
  • If symptoms worsen or still present after 1 week / >2 episodes in 6 months, myringotomy and tympanostomy tube insertion/ Ventilation tube/Grommet (M&T)
  • Warn patient to come back if develop new symptoms and shld f/u in few days to prevent Cx
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6
Q

Otitis media with effusion

A
  • Presence of (sterile) fluid in middle ear without signs and symptoms of ear infection
  • Yellowish fluid +/- bubbles, intact ear drum, air-fluid level
  • Intact TM
  • Unilateral otitis media with effusion is NPC until proven otherwise* (do nasoendoscope)
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7
Q

Clinical features of otitis media with effusion

A
  • Aural fullness/sensation of blocked ear
  • Conductive hearing loss
  • Otoscopy: yellowish fluid, intact ear drum, air-fluid level, air bubbles behind TM
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8
Q

Investigations for OME

A
  • Pure tone audiogram: CHL
  • Tympanogram: Type B pattern impedance tympanometry - poor TM motility
  • Nasoendoscopy
  • GOLD: Pneumatic otoscopy
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9
Q

Management for OME

A
  • Abx not indicated
  • Wait 3 months for spontaneous resolution
  • Conservative: Valsalva manoeuvre to reduce obstruction (‘Pop ear’)
  • If persists >3 months, refer to ENT for myringotomy and Grommet tympanostomy tube insertion (M&T)

Long term tube
- does not have outer flange
- unable to self-extrude

Short term tube
- able to self extrude
- as skin cells grow underneath flange of gromet and pushes gromet out

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10
Q

Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM)

A
  • Repeated or prolonged bouts of AOM damaging the TM causing non-healing perforation
  • Chronic central perforation of TM with recurrent ear discharge
  • Causative organisms come from external ear
  • Chronic infx of middle ear spread to mastoid system –> Infected mucosa produces copious amounts of mucopus –> Leaks through TM perforation
    –> Otorrhea
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11
Q

Clinical features of chronic suppurative otitis media

A
  • Otorrhea: Purulent middle ear discharge
  • Chronic >6 weeks (6-12 weeks)
  • Conductive hearing loss
  • Painless
    ± Facial nerve palsy
  • On PE: Large TM perforation
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12
Q

Management of CSOM

A
  • Aural toilet
  • Topical abx (ciprofloxacin)
  • Definitive: Surgical closure of perforation via myringoplasty
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13
Q

Pathophysio of cholesteatoma (epidermoid inclusion cyst)

A
  • Pars flaccida (Superior 10% of TM)/attic/epitympanum region (where roof of canal meets TM) problem
  • Chronic negative pressure in middle ear due to Eustachian tube dysfunction (Or patient’s habit to sniff in)
    –> Inward retraction of pas flaccida (Lacks middle fibrous layer)
    –> Retraction pocket behind TM in middle ear initially shallow and self- cleaning, later deepens and traps squamous keratinising epithelium, debris and cerumen
    –> Pressure + skin cells are active and secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines
    –> Erosion and destruction of surrounding bony structures

TLDR trapping of skin (keratin) in middle ear

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14
Q

Clinical features of cholesteatoma

A
  • Foul-smelling ear discharge due to infecting organisms (Pseudomonas) and dead skin trapped in ear
  • Conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss in late stage
  • Recurrent/non-resolving infection
  • Granulation seen at pars flaccida (suspicious for cholesteatoma)
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15
Q

Complications of cholesteatoma

A

Inside ear:
- Erosion of ossicles (Esp joint b/w incus and stapes) –> CHL
- Erosion of facial nerve canal –> Facial palsy
- Labyrinthine fistula and labyrinthitis –> Vertigo
- SNHL
- Erosion of tegmen (Roof of middle ear) –> Intracranial sepsis

Outside ear:
- Mastoiditis
- Meningitis

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16
Q

Investigations for cholesteatoma

A
  1. Pure tone audiogram
    - CHL
  2. Tympanogram
  3. CT temporal bone
    - Assess anatomy of temporal bone prior to Sx
    - Exclude Cx that may exist but are not clinically obvious
17
Q

Management for cholesteatoma

A

All patients are recommended mastoidectomy and reconstruction

18
Q

Otosclerosis

A

New bone formation causing fusion/fixation of stapes footplate to oval window

‘Bilateral, gradual, progression conductive hearing loss’

19
Q

Inheritance pattern of otosclerosis

A

Autosomal dominant

20
Q

Progress of otosclerosis

A
  • Bilateral, gradual, progressive conductive hearing loss that begins in 20s-30s, may progress to sensorineural if cochlea affected
  • Worse during pregnancy in women
  • Normal TM
21
Q

What is seen in audiogram for otosclerosis?

A

Characteristic dip in bone conduction at 2000 Hz (Carhart’s notch)

22
Q

Management for otosclerosis

A

Observe
- Hearing aid
- Stapedectomy surgery

23
Q

Mastoiditis

A

Infection of mastoid air cells (part of temporal bone)

*General age group 2-5 years

24
Q

Causative agents of mastoiditis (same as AOM)

A
  • Strep Pneumonia
  • Moraxella Catarrhalis
  • H. Influenza
  • Staph aureus
  • Strep pyogenes
25
Q

Clinical features of mastoiditis

A
  • Fever
  • Otorrhoea
  • Tender over mastoid
  • Retroauricular swelling causes obliteration of post-auricular fold
  • Protruding prominent ear as thickened postauricular tissues push ear out
26
Q

Investigation for mastoiditis

A

CT temporal bone
- opacification of mastoid air cells

27
Q

Age group of patients with acute mastoiditis

A

2-5 years old

28
Q

Causes of OME

A

If not infected:
- Eustachian tube dysfunction
- URTI
- NPC blocking eustachian tube
-> causes fluid to build up

29
Q

How to differentiate OME vs CSOM vs AOM?

A

CSOM 99% will present with TM perforation
OME - cone of light will be dull, +/- air bubbles, yellowish looking
AOM: erythematous TM, pus seen behind ear drum (very angry looking picture)

30
Q

Complications of otitis media with effusion

A

Acute otitis media
Ossicular erosion