Written Flashcards
Treatment of this
1-Local ear cleaning by dry mopping and suction.
2-Antifungal ear drops: Nystatin (antifungal) ear drops. Solution of 2% salicylic acid + 70% alcohol
3-Ear pack with antifungal cream if canal skin is swollen obstructing the meatus
4-Avoid water entry into ear.
Clinical picture and complications
Malignant otitis externa CP: Agonizing ear pain more at night (Nocturnal otalgia) and headache, with significant hearing loss.
Spread of infection may lead to 7th nerve palsy: commonest cranial nerve affected usually irreversible, lower 4 cranial nerve palsy, trigeminal facial pain & 6th nerve palsy, Parotid affection: pain and swelling
Investigations of this disease
Malignant otitis externa investigations:
1-Blood sugar for diabetes control, leukocyte count, ESR and CRP for diagnosis and follow up, and kidney function for monitoring side effects of antibiotics analgesics.
2-Culture and sensitivity of ear discharge
3-CT & MRI petrous: detect bone erosion and extension
4-bone scans as Technetium for diagnosis and Gallium for follow up
5-Biopsy from granulation tissue to exclude malignancy
Treatment of this disease
Treatment of malignant otitis externa
Hospitalization
1- Strict control of diabetes and other medical conditions
2- Systemic parenteral antibiotics (anti-pseudomonas)
3- Analgesics
4- Local daily ear cleaning by suction
5- Local antibiotic ear drops & ear packing using antibiotic cream
6- Local debridement of granulation tissue
8-Hyperbaric O2
Clinical picture and etiology of this
Acute otitis media (suppurative stage) CP:
1- Acute onset of otalgia, fever, and CHL. Infants present with ear pulling, crying, restlessness and vomiting or diarrhea.
2- Examination reveals red bulging tympanic membrane OR otorrhea
- Causative organisms:
- Viral: rhinovirus, adenovirus, influenza virus.
- Bacterial: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Hemophilus influenza
- Route of infection: usually following upper respiratory tract infection where organisms reach the middle ear through the eustachian tube.
Investigations and treatment of this
No routine investigations are required except in: In complications CT is done and In cases of treatment failure Culture of the discharge is done
Analgesics.
Systemic antibiotics
- First choice is oral Amoxicillin.
- In case of treatment failure, Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, or ceftriaxone.
- In case of penicillin allergy, Clarithromycin
Local (nasal) or systemic decongestants.
Surgical treatment e.g. myringotomy may be considered rarely in complicated AOM
Discuss the clinical picture and the investigations of this disease
Safe CSOM (suppurative otitis media) Cl/P: Tinnitus, CHL, history of intermittent profuse ODORLESS mucopurulent discharge. Examinations show central tympanic membrane perforation (rounded oval or kidney shaped) with regular margins
PTA: shows CHL
Culture and sensitivity of discharge
Discuss the treatment of the following disease
Safe CSOM (suppurative otitis media)
- Aural toilet by suctioning of ear discharge.
- Topical antibiotics.
- Systemic antibiotics may be used
Tympanoplasty. It includes myringoplasty with eradication of middle ear disease e.g. polyps, and/or ossiculoplasty (repair the ossicles)
Discuss the clinical picture of this disease
Squamous CSOM, unsafe CSOM, Cholesteatoma of ME
Symptoms:
▫ CHL and tinnitus.
▫ History of persistent, scanty, offensive, purulent ear discharge
. Signs:
▫ Discharge: Purulent (characteristic).
▫ Perforation: It may be attic (in pars flaccida) or marginal.
▫ Cholesteatoma may appear as a whitish mass in the attic.
▫ Granulation tissue or polyp may be present.
PTA shows CHL and CT scan.
Discuss the treatment of this disease
removal of cholesteatoma sac usually by modified radical mastoidectomy
▫ Reconstruction of hearing (Tympanoplasty) could be done at the same time (primary) or delayed (secondary) later, to ensure the absence of residual or recurrence of the disease before reconstruction.
▫ A long-term clinical follow-up is necessary to detect residual cholesteatomas and recurrences.
Discuss the clinical picture of this disease and investigations required
Mastoiditis: Profuse otorrhea (reservoir sign), sagging of posterosuperior meatal wall, tender mastoid bone
- Radiology is mandatory. CT of the temporal bones is diagnostic for mastoiditis. MRI should be performed if intracranial abscess formation or lateral sinus thrombophlebitis is suspected. MR venography demonstrates the degree of patency of the related venous sinuses.
- Audiogram.
- Cultures and sensitivity of the discharge to guide therapy.
- Lumbar puncture is indicated in suspected meningitis.
Enumerate the complications of cholesteatoma
- Cranial
* Mastoiditis
* Petrositis.
* Labyrinthitis
* Facial nerve paralysis - Intracranial
* Meningitis
* Extradural abscess
* Subdural empyema (brain abscess)
* Lateral/sigmoid sinus thrombosis
* Otitic hydrocephalus
Treatment of complications of otitis media
- Hospitalization
- Surgical drainage of the suppurative content and cleaning cholesteatoma entirely.
✓ Radical mastoidectomy is done in mastoiditis.
✓ Tracing the diseased cells to petrous apex is done in petrositis.
✓ Cholesteatoma eradication and facial canal exploration is done if facial paralysis complicating Cholesteatoma.
✓ Aspiration of brain abscess (with the aid of neurosurgeon)
- Antibiotics are adjuvant therapy given during disease according to culture exam
✓ Eye care and care of facial muscles
✓ Antiemetics and antivertiginous are given in labyrinthitis
✓ Anticoagulant are given in lateral sinus thrombosis
Give the symptoms and signs of this dease
Otitis media with effusion=secretory otitis media=Glue ear
Symptoms:
1- Conductive hearing loss (CHL) and tinnitus - may be unilateral (more in adults) or bilateral (more in children)
- in children (most common ear disease in children): the parents complain of decreased child attention.
- In adults: sensation of ear fullness
2- Bubbling sensation in ear.
3- History of recurrent AOM.
Signs:
a- Otoscopic examination: 1- Intact drum, dull grey color in mucoid OM and amber yellow in serous OM.
2- Air fluid level (hair line).
3- Air bubbles seen through a semi translucent membrane.
4- Retracted drum with foreshortened handle of malleus and disturbed cone of light
Give the investigations needed for this disease
1- PTA: CHL.
2- Tympanometry: type B flat curve.
3- Plain x-ray nasopharynx lateral view to detect adenoids
4- CT scan of nasopharynx to detect masses of nasopharynx
Treatment of this disease
Medical: In children, a conservative approach with regular follow up is tried up to 3 months. Valsalva maneuver to open ET is recommended.
Surgical: Myringotomy, aspiration of effusion and insertion of ventilation tube (Grommet) is advised in:
- Effusion persists for more than 3 months
- Effusion is associated with other procedures such as adenoidectomy
Insertion of a permanent ventilation T tube is done in OME associated with persistent nasopharyngeal pathology, or cleft palate.
Discuss the etiology of this disease
1- Bacterial or viral OM which increases viscosity of secretions
2- Eustachian tube obstruction &/or dysfunction:
- Adenoid enlargement.
- Nasopharyngeal tumours or swelling
- Cleft palate
- Recurrent rhinosinusitis or allergic nasal polypi
- Radiotherapy to head and neck tumours
3- Otitic barotrauma
Discuss the clinical picture of this disease
Symptoms:
* Inability to close the eye
* Deviation of the mouth to the healthy side
* Accumulation of food behind the cheek and drippling of saliva
+ Decreased lacrimation, disturbed hearing and Metallic taste
Signs:
* Inability to elevate the eyebrow.
* Loss of corrugations of forehead.
* Obliteration of nasolabial fold
* Drooping of the lower lip on affected side
* Facial asymmetry either on movement (partial palsy) or at rest (complete paralysis)
Discuss the etiology of this disease
-UMNL (Central)
1- Traumatic: head trauma
2- Inflammatory: meningitis-encephalitis- brain abscess
3- Vascular: hemorrhage- thrombosis- embolism
4- Neoplastic: brain tumours
5- Degenerative: multiple sclerosis
- LMNL
1-Pontine lesions: same as central causes
2-CPA lesions: Meningioma, Congenital cholesteatoma,
3-Cranial (temporal bone) lesions:
a-Idiopathic: Bell’s palsy
b-Traumatic:
-surgical: ear surgery
-accidental: fracture skull base.
c-Inflammatory: AOM, CSOM especially unsafe, Malignant otitis externa
d-Neoplastic: -glomus tumor, SCC of temporal bone
4-Extracranial (parotid) lesions: Traumatic: parotid surgery - parotid stab – parotid tumor
5-Miscellaneous: DM, Polyneuritis (Guillain – Barre Syndrome),
Compare between UMNL and LMNL in facial nerve paralysis
Discuss the investigations needed for this disease
- To Identify the Cause: Imaging (CT temporal bone) and Hearing tests (PTA).
- To detect the level of the lesion e.g. Schirmer’s test, Stapedial reflex, taste test
- Electrophysiological tests: Electroneurography (ENOG) for diagnosis and Electromyography (EMG for follow up).
Give the treatment of Bell’s palsy
Primarily medical by immediate full dose of steroids (60mg/day) with gradual withdrawal.
- Reassurance, eye care (ointment and natural tears) and care of facial muscles (massage or physiotherapy to avoid disuse atrophy).
-Surgical nerve decompression is hardly needed nowadays.
Recovery is usual and spontaneous but may be incomplete
Give the treatment of traumatic palsy of facial nerve
-Immediate postoperative nerve paralysis is managed with immediate exploration and repair, while delayed palsy is usually relieved through loosening of surgical dressings and steroids
-Depending on the guide of the Electrophysiological tests, surgery as nerve repair can be done by: End to end anastomosis - Nerve graft - Cross facial anastomosis. In some cases, only surgical nerve decompression can be enough.
-Eye care (ointment and natural tears) and care of facial muscles (massage or physiotherapy to avoid disuse atrophy).
Discuss the clinical picture and investigations needed for otosclerosis
Most cases present bilateral gradual progressive conductive hearing loss. In most cases, Otoscopy shows a rather normal picture. More common in middle age women.
PTA shows CHL:
If the cochlea was also involved, the PTA will show MHL.
Rarely cochlea only is involved, the PTA will show pure SNHL.
Tympanometry shows type As curve
Give the treatment of otosclerosis
The conductive component of otosclerosis can be corrected surgically in the form of Stapedectomy and insertion of a synthetic piston
Amplification by Hearing Aid is an alternative.
Discuss the clinical picture and how to confirm diagnosis in Meniere’s disease (endolymphatic hydrops)
Recurrent attacks of vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, nausea and vomiting usually preceded by aural fullness before the onset of vertigo.
Confirm Diagnosis: At least 2 definitive episodes of vertigo of at least 20 minutes duration must have occurred to make the diagnosis. Attacks usually come in clusters
Discuss the investigations needed for Meniere’s disease (endolymphatic hydrops)
- PTA shows reversible low frequency hearing loss at the onset of the disease, later the condition progresses to high frequency loss.
- Caloric test shows hypoactive labyrinth.
The caloric test is done by introducing water into the ear canal on one side, both 7 degrees above and below the assumed body temperature. The water is stopped after 30 seconds, and nystagmus is observed, while the patient is distracted. - Electrocochleography (Ecog) is diagnostic.
Discuss the treatment of Meniere’s disease (endolymphatic hydrops)
o During the attack: Anti-vertigenous drugs.
o In Between the attacks:
* Conservative treatment: includes reassurance, a low salt diet and medications such as vasodilators , antihistaminic and diuretics.
- Intratympanic injection of steroids
- In case of progressive SNHL and vertigo: intratympanic gentamycin injection (Medical labyrinthectomy).
- In resistant cases with intractable vertigo despite of medical, treatment entails surgery as endolymphatic sac decompression, labyrinthectomy or vestibular nerve section relying on hearing level.
Discuss the indications and contra-indications of ear wash
o Wax causing deafness or difficulty in examining the drum.
o Foreign body if not impacted or vegetable.
o Fungal mass.
o Caloric test.
Contra-indications
o T.M. perforation.
o Vegetable foreign body or impacted foreign body.
o Bacterial otitis externa.
o Fistula between the middle and inner ears.
Enumerate the complications of ear wash
1- Trauma:
A-Ruptured drum: the patient feels sudden severe pain with dizziness and deafness. Patient may feel fluid in the nasopharynx.
B-Injury to external canal by: Nozzle of syringe, very hot fluid.
2- Infection: otitis externa.
3- Reflex Cough due to vagal stimulation.
4- Dizziness and vomiting if cold or hot water is used.
Discuss the causes of CHL
EAC causes of CHL:
* Congenital: anomalies e.g., meatal atresia
* Traumatic: foreign body
* Inflammatory: infections and acute inflammatory swelling as in large furuncle, diffuse acute otitis externa and malignant otitis externa
* Neoplastic: Benign and malignant tumors
* Miscellaneous: impacted wax, the most common cause of conductive deafness.
Tympanic membrane causes of CHL:
*Perforation of tympanic membrane either traumatic or infective
Middle ear causes of CHL:
* Congenital: anomalies.
* Traumatic: otitis barotrauma, hemotympanum and ossicular disruption
* Inflammatory: All types of otitis media (AOM, CSOM).and Eustachian tube dysfunction leading to retracted tympanic membrane or otitis media with effusion (OME)
*Neoplastic: Middle ear tumors.
*Otosclerosis.
Discuss the clinical picture and investigations of this disease
Bilateral choanal atresia
It presents with acute respiratory distress immediately after birth as newborns are obligate nasal breathers.
The classical picture is cycles of respiratory distress and cyanosis which are relieved by crying
CT nose and protective nasal splint