Pathology of the Ears Flashcards
Cerumen Impaction: S/Sxs and Tx
- S/Sxs:
- hearing loss
- ear ache
- fullness
- pruritus
- reflex cough
- dizziness
- tinnitus
- Tx:
- symptomatic individuals and those unable to express themselves (children or disabled)
- Cerumenolytics (carbamide peroxide)
- irrigation with bacteriostatic agent
- manual removal
*
Cauliflower Ear aka Auricular Hematome Permanent causes
- repeated damage to the ear and resulting hematomas that are not drained
- leads to increased production of fibrocartilage and permament cauliflower ear
Piercing Related Infections S/sxs, the bug, and tx
- S/sxs: cardinal signs of infection
- The bug: assume pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Tx: Ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin (Keflex will not work)
Mastoiditis: s/xs, complications, diagnosis, treatments, the bugs
- s/sxs: fever, drainage, tenderness, otalgia, lethargy, OM signs
- Complications: facial nerve paralysis, hearing loss, labrynthitis, osteomylitis, Bezold abscess (deep neck abscess)
- Diagnosis:
- CBC: elevated WBC with left shift
- CRP: elevated CRP or ESR
- Tx: admission and IV abx for 7-10 days followed by oral abx for a total of 4 weeks
- the bugs: S. pneumoniae, S. aureaus, S. pyogenes (GAS)
Otitis Externa
- s/sxs: ear pain, hearing loss, discharge, pruritus
- tender with manipulation to ear
- edema and erya of the ear canal
- debris or cerumen brown, yellow or grey
- (white = candida, fine-dark: aspergillus)
- TM may have erya but no fluid behind
- NEED TO R/o Malignant External Otitis ***
- Treatment:
- topical acid-based, steroid and abx combo
- clean ear
- mild: topical acetic acid with hydrocortisone
- moderate: topical acetic acid with cipro or polymixen-neomycin
- severe: topical plus floroquinolones, and possibly oral abx
Malignant Otitis Externa: s/sxs, diagnosis, tx, the bugs
- pts with diabetes at high risk!!!
- s/sxs: pain out of proportion, ear pain with jaw pain, white-pink granulation tissue where bone meets cartilage, typically facial nerve involvement
- diagnosis: bone scan → will see osteoclast and osteoblast involvement
- tx: oral ciprofloxacin for 6-8 weeks, sometimes surgery
- the bugs: pseudomonas aeruginosis, candida, aspergillus
Aural foreign bodies: urgent removal and what requires a consult
- urgent removal: button batteries, penetrating objects, insects
- consults: pain, vertigo, nystagmus, otorrhea, facial nerve paralysis, and/or hearing loss
Obstructive Dysfunction of the Eustachian Tube
- failure to open to provide adequate ventilation to middle ear
- often caused by: rhinosinusitis, or allergic/nonallergic rhinitis
- s/sxs: ear pain, sensation of fullness, tinnitus, hearing loss, ears feel “plugged”, ear popping, vertigo and dysequilibrium
- tx: systemic decongestants (topical will not work)
- topical nasal steroids: if sinonasal inflammation is present
Patulous Dysfunction of the Eustachian Tube
- failure of the tube to close → hallmark sxs is breathsounds and hearing is greatly amplified for the patient
- s/sxs: ear pain, sensation of fullness, tinnitus, hearing loss, ears feel “plugged”, ear popping, vertigo and dysequilibrium
tx: systemic decongestants (topical will not work)
* topical nasal steroids: if sinonasal inflammation is present
stapedius muscle
attaches to the stapes, prevent super loud noises from entering the oval window → innervated by CN 7
Acute Otitis Media
- common causes: S. pneuomoniae, H. influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis
- previous viral URI → predisposing factor **
- high fever <40F, irritability, not wanting to feed
- tx: Amoxicillin or Augmentin
- if pcn allergy non anaphylactic: Cephalosporins
- if pcn allergy anaphylactic: Macrolides
Otitis Media With Effusion
- fluctuating hearing loss, NO FEVER or signs of infection
- dizziness, tinnitus
- usually spontaneously resolves within 3 months
- may need to refer to ENT for tympanostomy
Cholesteatoma
- **ear drainage for more than 2 weeks with appropriate treatment = most common presentation**
- new onset hearing loss after a recent ear surgery
- conductive hearing loss
- keratinized, desquamitized cells ususally in the pars flaccida, or behind the TM → can erode the surrounding bone/tissue
- REFERAL TO ENT
Barotrauma and perforation
- diagnosed with clinical presentation and history
- tx: usually resolve within 3 months
- slow healing? refer to ENT
- blood clots? DO NOT REMOVE
BPPV
- benign paroxsysmal positional vertigo
- NO HEARING LOSS
- spinning sensation that lasts for a few seconds, positional dependent
- diagnosis: Dix-Hallpike Maneuver
- treatment: Epley maneuver, Semont Maneuver