Surgery: ENT Flashcards
What bones can you see during otoscopy?
The handle of the malleus and the long process of the incus
What forms the majority and minority of the ear drum?
Majority - pars tensa
Minority - pars flaccida
How many layers make up the pars tensa?
Three - outer keratinising squamous, middle vascularised fibrous connective tissue, inner nonkeratinising squamous
If you’re ever struggling to see what’s going on where should you pay close attention to?
The pars flaccida ie the attic
What is the centre point of the tympanic membrane?
Umbo which is where any growth begins
What joint pokes into the ear canal and forms the anterior recess?
TMJ
Which nerve runs over the top of the stapes?
Facial
How does otitis externa present?
Discharge +/- pain and may get closing of the EAC w swelling
Which individual should you beware of w otitis externa and why?
The elderly diabetic as it may lead to skull base osteomyelitis
What bacteria are responsible for otitis externa?
Staph or Strep -> klebsiella, e coli, pseudomonas
Which group of abx are ototoxic?
Aminoglycosides
What can otitis externa as the result of strep become? And tx?
Spreading cellulitis of the face which requires admission and IV abx
How does acute otitis media present?
Pain -> Discharge
Which individual should you beware of w acute otitis media and why?
The immunocompromised diabetic male teenager w a headache as they’re more at risk of intracranial comps
What are the features of the ear drum that is affected w acute otitis media?
It bulges out towards you esp the pars flaccida + the tympanic membrane is erythematous and injected w dilated blood vessels
What can acute otitis media progress to?
Mastoiditis
What are worrying signs in a child w mastoiditis?
Look: a clear defined swelling, displacement of the pinna, loss of post auricular creases
Feel: boggy + fluctuant
Move: take the pt to theatre for abscess drainage
What happens if you don’t do anything for a mastoiditis?
It can progress to form a posterior mastoid fistula, track down a muscle and become a neck abscess, track back and become a brain abscess
By what route does the pus get from the mastoid into the brain?
Through or alongside the veins
What do veins in the head and neck lack?
Valves
What is glue ear?
Otitis media w effusion
Which individual should you beware of w OME and why?
Unilateral glue ear in an adult may indicate nasopharyngeal cancer
What does OME look like down the otoscope?
The tympanic membrane looks stretched around the malleus handle and sucked inwards
Tx of OME
Arrange a hearing test, watch and wait for 12wks as 90% get better by themselves, otherwise surgical insertion of a grommet