Otorhinolaryngology Flashcards
Flashcards for the Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery rotation at the University of Stellenbosch for undergraduate MB.ChB (Bachelors of Medicine and Bachelors of Surgery) students. Note that decks are always a work in progress and are liable to factual, grammatical and spelling errors.
Parts of the Ear
- External ear
- Middle ear
- Inner ear
Parts of External Ear
- Pinna
- External Auditory Meatus
- Tympanic Membrane
Tissues of the External Ear
- skin (including hair, wax)
- cartilege (perichondrium)
- bone
- membrane
Functions of the External Ear
- Seals off middle ear: protection
- Desquamation
- Migration
- Expulsion
Broad Parts of the Middle Ear
- Middle Ear per se
- Eustachian Tubes
- Mastoid Air Cell System
Contents of the Middle Ear
- Tympanic membrane
- Ossicles
- Oval window
- Round window
- Facial nerve
Components that aerate the middle ear
a. Eustachian tubes
b. Mastoid air cell reservoir
Components that amplify sound in the middle ear
a. Tympanic membrane
b. Ossicles
Parts of the Inner Ear
- Cochlea
- Vestibule
- Vestibulocochlear nerve
Compartments of the Cochlea
- scala tympani
- scala media
- scala vestibuli
Types of Tuning Fork Tests
- Rinne
- Weber
[3. Loock - starting off by asking patient to listen on each side]
Subjective Audiometry Tests
Pure tone audiograms
Speech audiometry
Objective Audiometry Tests
Impedance Audiometry/ Tympanometry
Evoked Response Audiometry
Cochlear Echo Measurement
Normal human hearing range (dB)
0-130
Populations where ERA is useful
- Babies
- Handicapped
- Malingerers
Frequency at which noise-induced hearing loss starts
4000Hz
Parts of the Vestibule
- Utricle
- Saccule
- Semicircular canals
Vestibular tests
- positional test
- fistula test
- caloric test
- rotation tests
- electronystagmography
Layers of the tympanic membrane
- skin
- fibrous tissue
- mucosa
Name the nasal turbinates and what they drain
SUPERIOR TURBINATE: posterior ethmoid sinus sphenoid sinus MIDDLE TURBINATE: anterior and middle ethmoid sinus frontal sinus maxillary sinus INFERIOR TURBINATE: nasolacrimal duct
Briefly explain the arterial supply of the nose
a. trigeminal branches of external and internal carotid arteries
b. anterior and posterior ethmoidal branches supply structures superior to middle turbinate
c. sphenopalatine arteries, palatine arteries and labial arteries supply other structures
Briefly explain the venous drainage of the nose
a. facial veins and ophthalmic veins
b. drain through the cavernous sinus
Briefly explain the innervation of the nose
- sensory: maxillary division of CNV (Trigeminal Nerve)
- secretory: Vidian nerve
- vessels: sympathetic constrict, parasympathetic dilate
Functions of the Nose
- Filtration of air and protection
- Humidification and warming of air
- Olfaction
- Vocal resonance
Name the paranasal sinuses
frontal sinus
maxillary sinus
ethmoid sinus
sphenoid sinus
Anatomical relations to the maxillary sinus
orbit
teeth
cheek
nasal cavity
Important boundaries of the frontal sinus
orbit
anterior cranial fossa
Important adjacent structures to sphenoid sinus
internal carotid artery
optic nerve
cavernous sinus
Contents of the cavernous sinus
oculomotor nerve
trochlear nerve
abducens nerve
1st and 2nd divisions of trigeminal nerve
Possible functions of paranasal sinuses
- aid vocal resonance
- reduce skull weight
- protect eye from trauma
- protect vital intracranial structures
Parts of the Pharynx
Nasopharynx
Oropharynx
Hypopharynx
Functions of the larynx
protect tracheobronchial tree
voice production
Innervation of the larynx
- Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve
- laryngeal muscles except cricothyroid
- glottis
- subglottis - Superior Laryngeal Nerve
- cricothyroid muscle
- supraglottis
Predisposing factors for otitis externa
a. environmental (heat, humidity, swimming)
b. trauma (cotton buds, fingernails)
c. physical (narrow canals, eczematous skin)
Clinical features of otitis externa
otalgia pruritis erythema of skin oedema of skin/canal debris in canal hearing loss can occur due to oedema
Most important aspect of managing otitis externa
Aural toilet
Common pathogens for otitis externa
- staph pyogenes
- pseudomonas pyocyanea
- diphtheroids
- proteus vulgaris
- e. coli
- aspergillus niger
- candida albicans
define otitis externa
inflammation of the skin of the external auditory meatus
constituents of quadriderm cream
Betamethasone
Gentamicin
Clioquinol
Tolnaflate
Good treatment for very mild otitis externa
- Aural toilet
- Topical drops:
acetic acid
weak povidone-iodine solution
ichthammol glycerin
thiomersal tincture
Appearance of fungal otitis externa
“soggy newspaper”
Define localised otitis externa
furuncle of a hair-bearing area of the external auditory meatus
Define malignant otitis externa
otitis externa that progresses to an osteomyelitis
Common sites of malignant OE spread
tympanic plate
skull base
petrous bone
Main pathogen of malignant OE
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
Complications of Malignant OE
- CN 7-12 palsies
- meningitis
- sigmoid sinus thrombosis
- brain abscess
- death
Clinical features of malignant OE
- constant deep otalgia
- granulation tissue deep in the EAM
- failure to resolve on conventional treatment
Management of malignant OE
- hospitalise
- IV antibiotics - prolonged
- aminoglycosides
- B-lactams
- fluoroquinolones - surgery is debated and should only take place in the form of debridement if at all
Define Acute Otitis Media
infection of the mucous membrane of the entire middle-ear cleft
Risk factors for AOM
- recent URTI
- Eustachian tube dysfunction
- 2nd hand smoke inhalation
- bottle feeding
- immunosuppression
- low socioeconomic status
- allergies
- craniofacial abnormalities
- neuromuscular abnormalities
Common pathogens of AOM
BACTERIAL - Strep Pneumoniae - H. Influenzae - Moraxella Catarrhalis VIRAL - RSV - Influenza - Rhinovirus
Complications of AOM
Mastoiditis
CN VII palsy
Complications of Mastoiditis
intracranial abscess meningitis labyrinthitis sigmoid sinus thrombosis petrositis
Symptoms of AOM
- otalgia
- fever
- irritability/ poor feeding
- hearing loss
Signs of the TM in AOM
- loss of lustre/ decreased light reflex
- redness/ hypervascularity
- bulging/ fullness
- reduced mobility
- perforation
- mucoid discharge (only if perforated)
Treatment: AOM
- Antibiotics
- Analgesia
- Nasal decongestants
- Follow-up
Antibiotics in AOM
co-amoxiclav
cefuroxime
Causes of non-resolving AOM
- sinusitis
- inefficient antibiotic choice
- low grade mastoid air cell infection
Causes of recurrent AOM
IgA deficiency
hypogammaglobulinaemia
Define acute mastoiditis
inflammation of mastoid air cells, usually follows AOM
Symptoms: Acute Mastoiditis
otalgia
acutely ill patient
Signs: Acute Mastoiditis
- pyrexia
- auricle protrusion
- acute hearing loss
- pinna displacement down and out
- otorrhoea
- leukocytosis
Treatment: Acute Mastoiditis
- IV antibiotics
- Analgesia
- Antipyretcis
- Mastoidectomy
Classify Chronic Otitis Media
A. Chronic Otitis Media with Effusion (OME)
B. Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM)
- mucosal type
- bony type (with cholesteatoma)
Define OME
fluid collection behind an in tact TM, usually in children
Causes: OME
- post AOM
- Eustachian abnormality/dysfunction
- idiopathic
Symptoms: OME
- may have none
- moderate hearing loss picked up by parents
- speech/language difficulties
- aural fullness
Signs: OME
- may have none
- bulging or retracted TM
- discoloured TM
- fluid/ air-fluid level visualised
- pneumatic otoscopy changes
- type B tympanogram
Management: OME
- Watchful waiting
- Steroids (debatable)
- Behavioural changes (parents stop smoking etc)
- Surgery e.g. grommets if persists >3 months
Causes: CSOM
- AOM with perforation
- TB
- Cholesteatoma
Common organisms: CSOM
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
Staph Aureus
Anaerobes
Fungi
Symptoms: CSOM
- otorrhoea
- hearing loss
- painless
Signs: CSOM without cholesteatoma
- central perforation
2. wet purulent discharge
Signs: CSOM with cholesteatoma
- abnormal keratinising squamous epithelium in middle ear
- bony destruction
- marked hearing loss
- granulations
- sentinel polyps
Treatment: CSOM without cholesteatoma
- keep ear dry
- syringe/dry mopping
- antibiotic drops
- steroid drops
- myringoplasty/tympanoplasty
- hearing aid if needed after resolution
Treatment: CSOM with cholesteatoma
- keep ear dry
- aural/suction toilet
- mastoid surgery
Diagnoses to consider in runny ear
- TB
- foreign body
- neoplasia
Features of Atopic Syndrome
- infantile eczema
- allergic asthma
- nasal and conjunctival allergy
Signs of Allergic Rhinitis
- oedematous nasal mucosa
- pale/violet nasal mucosa
- copious clear mucous in nose
- “allergic salute”
History of Allergic Rhinitis
- seasonal/perennial - association with exposure
- family history of atopy
- rhinorrhoea
- nasal irritation and sneezing
- itchy/watery eyes
- previous dermatitis/eczema
- symptoms of nasal obstruction e.g. hyposmia
Nasal complications of Allergic Rhinitis
nasal septal deviation
turbinate hypertrophy
sinus disease
Management of Allergic Rhinitis
- Avoidance
- Oral/intranasal antihistamines
- Topical steroid nasal sprays
- Depot IM steroids (only when symptoms interfere with special events)
- Topical anticholinergics
- Sodium chromoglycate
- Desensitisation
- Surgery for turbinate hypertrophy
Define Sinusitis
inflammation of the mucosa of the paranasal sinuses
Aetiology of Sinusitis
a. rhinogenic
b. dental
c. traumatic
d. neoplastic
Common pathogens of acute sinusitis
strep. pneumoniae
h. influenzae
moraxella catarrhalis
staph pyogenes
anaerobes (in dental origins)
Signs of acute sinusitis
- pyrexia
- tenderness over sinus/es
- mucopus in nose/nasopharynx
- imaging: opacity or fluid-level in sinus
Treatment of acute sinusitis
- bed rest
- systemic antibiotics e.g. augmentin
- nasal decongestants e.g. illiadin drops
- analgesia
- steam/menthol inhalation
- antral wash-outs (only in certain cases)
Associations with chronic sinusitis
- polyposis
- allergy
- immune deficits
- Wegener’s granulomatosis
- Churg-Strauss
- sarcoidosis
- cystic fibrosis
Common pathogens: chronic sinusitis
staph aureus
strep viridans
Treatment: chronic sinusitis
- prevent acute episodes
- nasal douche
- nasal steroids
- systemic steroids (only if obstructive polyps)
- antibiotics (short course)
- surgery (if medical mx fails)
DDX for sinusitis
viral rhinitis allergic rhinitis migraine TMJ pain dental pathology sinus tumour
Diagnosis of sinusitis is clinical. What can you use as adjuncts?
- endoscopy
- bloods
- microscopy
- imaging
Complications of Sinusitis
- meningitis
- dental abscess
- intracranial abscess
- osteomyelitis of the frontal bone (Pott’s puffy tumour)
- cavernous sinus thrombosis
- orbital cellulitis
Indications for sinus surgery
failure of medical treatment >6 weeks
obstructed osteomiatal complex
large obstructive polyps
Surgical options for sinus surgery
functional endoscopic sinus surgery
open sinus surgery
Management: complicated sinusitis
- drain complication
- address problematic sinus
- maxillary sinus washout
- drains in sinus/es and irrigate til clear
- broad spectrum antibiotics, adjust after MCS
- nasal decongestants
- long-term intranasal steroids
Principles for safe use of systemic steroid in allergic rhinitis
- short term (<2weeks)
- not more than every fourth month
- not instead of, but in addition to other medication
- not for: children, pregnant women, insulin dependent DM
Orbital complications of acute sinusitis
- preseptal oedema
- orbital cellulitis
- subperiostial abscess
- orbital abscess
- cavernous sinus thrombosis
Aetiology: Sore throat in children
acute pharyngitis acute tonsilitis infectious mononucleosis blood dyscrasias diphtheria
Aetiology: Acute sore throat in adults
tonsillitis
pharyngitis
quinsy
candidiasis
Aetiology: Chronic sore throat in adults
tonsillitis
pharyngitis
GORD
eagle syndrome
Symptoms: tonsillitis
sore throat dysphagia otalgia headache malaise
Signs: tonsillitis
- pyrexia
- tonsils enlarged and hyperaemic
- inflamed pharyngeal mucosa
- hallitosis
- tender cervical lymphadenopathy
Treatment: Tonsillitis
- Bed rest
- Analgesia, Antipyretics
- Hydration
- Antibiotics - penicillin
- Surgery when earned
Complications: Tonsillitis
- acute otitis media
- peritonsillar abscess
- pulmonary infection
- IgA nephropathy
- Acute rheumatism
Chronic Tonsillitis symptoms and signs
malaise
halitosis
sore throat
small tonsils
Chronic tonsillitis treatment
surgery
long-term antibiotics
Symptoms: Quinsy
severe unilateral sore throat
dysphagia/odynophagia
otalgia
Signs: Quinsy
- deviating tonsil and uvula
- trismus
- cervical lymphadenopathy
- halitosis
Treatment: Quinsy
- Aspirate
- Penicillin IVI
- Fluids
- Surgery if earned
Causes: acute pharyngitis
viral
candidiasis
Causes: chronic pharyngitis
- post nasal drip
- tobacco smoke
- gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)
- mouth breathing
- chronic sinusitis
- industrial fumes
- antiseptic throat lozenges
Important to exclude with sore throat
- post-nasal drip
- reflux disease
- tedonitis
- sinister causes
What is Eagle Syndrome
stylohyoid ligament calcification
Formal name of croup
Laryngotracheobronchitis
Causes of croup
Parainfluenza virus
Respiratory syncytial virus
Bacterial superinfection
Clinical features: croup
- pyrexia
- cough: painful, barking
- gross mucosal oedema of lower resp tract
- stridor: inspiratory, later biphasic
- later complete airway obstruction
Management: Croup
- admit
- humidifier
- oxygen
- intubate if indicated
- tracheostomy if indicated
- regular saline suction
- physiotherapy
Difference between croup and epiglottitis
- croup has no drooling
2. croup does not have constant forward leaning
Stridor Grading Scale
I. Inspiratory stridor
II. Expiratory stridor
III. Inspiratory and Expiratory stridor with pulsus paradoxus
IV. Respiratory arrest
Causes: Stridor in adults
- malignancy
- laryngeal trauma
- acute laryngitis
- supra/epiglottitis
Causes: stridor in children
- croup
- epiglottitis
- foreign body
- trauma
- retropharyngeal abscess
- laryngeal papillomata