Surgery - ENT Flashcards
What is a normal result in pure tone audiometry?
All results above 20dB line
What is the difference between SNHL, conductive HL and mixed HL?
SNHL = both air and bone conduction are impaired (AC is better than BC)
Conductive HL: only air conduction is impaired
Mixed HL: air and bone condution both impaired, but BC is better than AC
How can middle ear function be evaluated?
Tympanometry - measures stiffness of ear drum
What is automated auditory brainstem response audiometry?
Auditory stimulus with measurement of elicited brain response by surface electrode
What are the components of the child hearing exams?
All babies get evoked otoacoustic emission testing
If not normal –>
Automated auditory brainstem response audiometry
What are the signs and symptoms of TMJ dysfunction?
Otalgia (referred pain from auriculotemporal nerve) Facial pain TMJ joint clicking/popping Bruxism (teeth grinding) Stress
What condition does ‘swimmer’s ear’ refer to?
Acute diffuse otitits externa
How should necrotising otitis externa be managed?
Urgent ENT referral
CT head
IV ciprofloxacin
How should acute otitis externa be managed?
Topical abx +/- topical steroid –> oral flucloxacillin
What is the most common pathogen implicated in otitis media?
S. pneumoniae (as secondary to URTI)
How should acute otitis media without perforation be managed?
Delayed/no script unless:
- symptoms >4 days and not improving
- systemically unwell but not requiring admission
- Immunocompromised
- <2y with BL OM
How should acute otitis media with perforation be managed?
Oral amoxicillin 5 days
Review in 6w
What condition is known as ‘glue ear’?
Otitis media with effusion
How should glue ear be managed?
If no comorbidities: active observation for 6-12w, if no improvement –> ENT referral
If co-existent cleft palate/ Down’s –> refer to ENT
How long do grommets last?
Up to 12 months
What are the signs and symptoms of cholesteatoma?
Headache, pain
Foul smelling discharge from ear
Hearing loss
How should cholesteatoma be managed?
Refer for surgery
Recall 4 drugs that can cause tinnitus
Aspirin
Aminoglycosides
Loop diuretics
Ethanol
What is the most concerning cause of unilateral tinnitus?
Acoustic neuroma
Recall 3 vestibular causes of vertigo
Meniere’s
BPPV
Labyrinthitis
Recall 5 central causes of vertigo
Vestibular schwannoma MS Stroke Head injury Inner ear syphillis
What is Meniere’s?
Dilatation of endolymph spaces of membranous labyrinth
What are the symptoms of Meniere’s?
Clustered attacks lasting <12 hours Aural fullness Progressive SNHL Vertigo + N&V + nystagmus Tinnitus
How is Meniere’s managed?
Medically:
Betahistine for vertigo
Cyclizine for emesis
Surgically:
Gentamicin installation via grommets
What are the symptoms of viral labyrinthitis/vestibular neuronitis?
Severe vertigo, nystagmus and vomiting following an URTI
How can you differentiate between vestibular neuronitis and viral labyrinthitis clinically?
Hearing may be affected in viral labyrinthitis but isn’t in vestibular neuronitis
How should viral labyrinthitis/ vestibular neuronitis be managed?
If severe: IV prochlorperazine
If less severe: PO cyclizine and prochlorperazine
What is BPPV?
Displacement of otoliths in semi-circular canals
What are the symptoms of BPPV?
Suden rotational vertigo for <30s provoked by head turning +/- nystagmus; chronic history
How can BPPV be investigated?
Dix-Hallpike manoevre –> up-beat torsional nystagmus
How can BPPV be managed?
Epley manoevre and betahistine
What is acoustic neuroma also known as?
Vestibular schwannoma
What are the symptoms of acoustic neuroma?
Slow-onset, unilateral SNHL, tinnitus +/- vertigo
How should possible acoustic neuroma be investigated?
Pure tone audiometry
MRI
What are the symptoms of otosclerosis?
Begins early adult life
BL conductive deafness and tinnitus
Hearing loss improves with noise but worsens with pregnancy, menstruation, menopause
How should otosclerosis be managed?
Hearing aid, stapes implant
What is the fancy name for age-related hearing loss?
Presbycusis
How should sudden SNHL be managed?
Refer to ENT in <24 hours, high dose PO prednisolone
How should allergic rhinosinusitis be managed?
- Avoid causative allergen
- For mild symptoms: PRN oral antihistamine (eg cetirizine) and PRN intranasal antihistamine (eg azelastine)
- For severe symptoms:
Intranasal CS (eg beclomethasone) and nasal irrigation
What are the red flags in sinusitis that would prompt an urgent ENT referral?
Unilateral symptoms
Persistent >3m despite treatment
Epistaxis
What are the indications for admission to hospital with sinusitis?
Severe systemic infection Signs of dangerous complications of sinusitis eg: Periorbital/orbital cellulitis Meningitis Brain abscess
How should sinusitis be managed?
If symptoms <10 days –> advice and safetynetting
If symptoms >10 days –> 14 day course of high-dose nasal corticosteroid
Can give back-up prescription of abx
What are the symptoms of nasal polyps?
Watery anterior rhinorrhoea Sinusitis Snoring Headaches Nasal obstruction
What is Samter’s triad?
Triad of nasal polyps, asthma and aspirin hypersensitivity
Therefore if person has nasal polyps and asthma, advise to avoid NSAIDs and aspirin as could cause a life-threatening reaction
What would make nasal polyps seem concerning?
If it is single and unilateral - as this may be a sign of a rare but sinister pathology
How should nasal polyps be managed?
- Routine referral to ENT for exam
- Medical: 4-6w course of topical steroids
- Surgically: can be removed endoscopically
What is a septal haematoma?
Untreated nasal fracture –> septal necrosis and nasal collapse as cartillage blood supply comes from the mucosa –> boggy swelling with nasal obstruction
How should all nosebleeds be initially managed?
Sit up
Lean forwards
Mouth open
Compress nasal cartilage for 15 mins
What are the 2 most common causes of tonsilitis?
EBV and Group A strep
Recall the score used to determine whether tonsilitis is likely bacterial/viral
CENTOR (only used if <3 days of pharyngitis) Cough absent Exudate Nodes (cervical anterior) Temp >38 at any point
How high a centor score do you need to give abx and do a rapid strep test in tonsilitis?
3 or 4
What are the symptoms of infectious mononucleosis?
Sore throat Fever Malaise LNopathy pharyngitis petechiae on soft palate splenomegaly
What antibiotic is used in bacterial tonsilitis?
Phenoxymethylpenicillin
How does diptheria classically appear?
Pseudomembranous ‘web’ at back of throat
When would you admit for tonsilitis?
- Difficulty breathing
- Clinical dehydration
- Peri-tonsillar abscess (quinsy) or cellulitis
- Marked systemic illness or sepsis
- Suspected rare cause (e.g. Kawasaki disease, diphtheria)
How frequent does tonsilitis have to be to indicate tonsillectomy?
7 bouts in 1 year
5 bouts/ year for 2 years
3 bouts/year for 3 years
What are the signs that GAS infection has progressed to scarlet fever?
Rash (‘sandpaper’)
Strawberry tongue
What is the risk of scarlet fever?
May progress to rheumatic fever with a week latency period
How should scarlet fever be managed?
Notify PHE
Phenoxymethylpenicillin
What is the main RF for tonsilar SCC?
HPV infection
What are the symptoms of Bell’s palsy?
UL facial weakness
Otalgia
Ageusia (loss of taste)
Hyperacusis (due to stapedius palsy)
What is Bell’s sign?
Failure of eye closure –> dryness and conjunctivitis
Seen in Bell’s palsy
How should Bell’s palsy be investigated?
Serology, possible LP
How should Bell’s palsy be managed?
Eye care
Prednisolone (50mg PO OD for 10 days)
What is the aetiology of RamsayHunt syndrome?
Reactivation of the varicella zoster virus in the genticulate ganglion of CNVII
What are the symptoms of Ramsay Hunt syndrome?
Otalgia
Facial nerve palsy
Vesicular rash around ear
Vertigo + tinnitus
How should Ramsay Hunt syndrome be managed?
Valaciclovir PO
Steroids PO
If treated within 72 hours, 75% recover, otherwise only 1/3 fully recover
If a small parotid lump enlargens very quickly, what is the likely cause?
Stone that has blocked parotid duct
How long after a TM perforation should a referral to ENT be made if it hasn’t healed?
6-8w
Recall some differentials for the cause of salivary gland swelling
Infective (TB/mumps) Neoplastic Calculi blockage Autoimmune (Sjogren's/IgG4) Sarcoidosis
How is a pharyngeal pouch managed?
Surgical repair with minimally-invasive stapling (Dohlman’s procedure)
What are the symptoms of pharyngeal pouch?
Hallitosis
Food getting stuck
What are the FeverPAIN criteria?
Fever (during previous 24 hours)
Purulence (pus on tonsils)
Attend rapidly (within 3 days after onset of symptoms)
severely Inflamed tonsils
No cough or coryza
Recall the 2 most common pathogens in otitis externa
Staph aureus
Pseudomonas
Recall the management of otitis externa
Take a swab and send for microbiology
TOPICAL antibiotics (abx used to cover pseudomas = gentamicin…) +/- steroid
Microsuction to clear debris (+/- pope wick)
Water precautions
How should necrotising otitis externa be managed?
admission and tazocin
Name 3 complications of otitis media
Facial nerve palsy
Chronic perforation
Mastoiditis
What is Ludwig’s angina?
Rapidly spreading infection of submandibular space
Classically “woody” to touch
Causes neck pain and drooling
Recall 4 predisposing factors to otitis externa
Swimming
Ear buds
Eczema
Diabetes
What type of mouth ulcer is typically described as centralised white ulcer and erythematous “halo”?
Apthous ulcers
What is this a typical history for?
“an indurated ulcer involving the lateral tongue in a patient with a long-term smoking history”
Squamous cell carcinoma
What is Heerfordt’s syndrome?
A rare manifestation of sarcoidosis characterized by the presence of facial nerve palsy, parotid gland enlargement, anterior uveitis, and low grade fever
Source: Capsule case 145