ENT Flashcards
(139 cards)
Anatomy and function of
- Outer ear
- Middle ear
- Inner ear
- Pinna, auditory canal, tympanic membrane. Collect sound.
- Ossicles bones = malleus, incus + stapes, opening of Eustachian tube. Convert sound from sound energy to mechanical energy, amplifies and relays it.
- Labyrinth = semicircular canals, vestibule, cochlea, CN8.
What turns the mechanical energy of sound into electrical energy to process
Organ of Corti.
Types of hearing loss
Conductive - sound energy does not reach cochlear. Problem in outer or middle ear. Normal bone conduction. Rinne’s negative.
Sensorineural - cochlea or auditory nerve defect. Problem in inner ear. Rinne’s test positive.
Mixed
Testing hearing loss
512Hz tuning fork 🍴
Rinne’s test = tuning fork on mastoid then in air by ear.
- Air conduction usually better than bone so hear vibrations better when by ear than placed on mastoid or with sensorineural hearing loss.
- If heard louder on mastoid = conductive hearing loss
Weber’s test = tuning fork on forehead
- Normal = equal on both sides.
If sound louder on one side, this suggests:
- Conductive hearing deficit on this side (bone conduction)
OR
- Sensorineural hearing loss on the other side (no air conduction).
Audiogram!!
Audiogram
y axis = hearing level in dB.
x axis = frequency in Hz.
Normal is 0-20dB.
Causes of conductive hearing loss
External canal obstruction = wax, foreign body, oedema from otitis media, otitis externa.
Tympanic membrane perforation
Eustachian tube problems = otitis media with effusion.
Acute mastoiditis
Otosclerosis
Chostesteatoma
Causes of sensorineural hearing loss
Ototoxicity = Gentamicin. Meniere's disease Infections = Mumps, encephalitis, meningitis. Presbycusis Noise induced Acoustic neuroma
Tympanic membrane perforation
Sudden onset, painful hearing loss.
O/E can see perforation.
Rx:
If small heal spontaneously +/- topical Abx.
If larger may need ear drum replacement surgery - Myringoplasty.
Inheritance and pathology of otosclerosis
Autosomal dominant.
More common in women.
Hardening and stiffening of the stapes footplate in oval window of cochlea.
Presentation, Ix and Rx for otosclerosis
Slowly progressive bilateral conductive hearing loss.
Worsen in pregnancy and menses.
May also suffer form tinnitus and transient vertigo.
Ix with audiogram.
Rx = hearing aids, surgical management with stapedotomy (hole to help movement) or replace stapes.
Cholesteatoma pathology and causes
Persistent discharge though a damaged tympanic membrane. Pressure difference causes tympanic membrane retraction. Creates retraction pocket in tympanic membrane which are lined by squamous epithelium (normally resp epithelium) and initiate inflammation.
Can be due to recurrent middle ear infections, perforated tympanic membrane, congenital.
Presentation, Ix and Rx for cholesteatoma
Conductive deafness in affected ear (unilateral)
Discharge (smelly) but not painful (∆ for otitis media).
Local invasion can cause facial paralysis, erosion to brain cavity.
O/E = tympanic membrane retraction.
Ix = CT! if worried about bone erosion. Rx = surgical removal of cholesteatoma via open mastoid cavity technique.
Audiogram in
- Sensorineural loss
- Conductive
- Mixed
- Both air and bone lines are at lower dB
- Only the air conduction line is lower.
- Both lines are low but to different extents.
Main pathogens in acute otitis media
Viral
H.influenza
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Presentation of acute otitis media
Severe acute ear pain (otalgia)
Discharge (discharge release can ease pain).
Kids pull ears, crying, pyrexial.
Conductive hearing loss.
O/E = bulging red tympanic membrane.
Why is otitis media more common in kids
More acute angle of Eustachian tube so harder to clear mucus in area.
Ix and Mx for acute otitis media
Ix = Visualise tympanic membrane with otoscope.
Rx =
- Analgesia (pcm), steam inhalations.
- Can give ABx e.g. amoxicillin if remains symptomatic for over 3 days in kids. Most adults will need ABx as it is unusual for them to get disease.
Complications of acute otitis media
Intracranial = meningitis, encphalitis, brain abscess. Infratemporal = mastoiditis, CN7 palsy, labrynthitis
What is otitis media with effusion and who gets it?
Collection of fluid in middle ear, >3months. Usually following acute otitis media.
- Kids with Eustachian tube acute angle
- Adults with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Presentation, Ix and Mx for otitis media with effusion
Painless but feeling of fullness in ear.
Conductive hearing loss - speak quietly.
Tinnitus, cracking/popping.
Hx of AOM.
O/E = opaque, intact tympanic membrane, loss of light reflex.
Ix = Audiogram, tympanogram (flat). If adult must exclude tumour!!!
Mx = Most self limiting in kids within 1yrs sports may not need Rx.
Grommets to act as ventilation tubes and release mucus.
Hearing aids.
Dr tries to treat AOM but it won’t go away.
Cholesteatoma. (‘unsafe chronic otitis media’)
Chronic otitis media
- Chronic inflammation of the middle ear and mastoid cavity. >2weeks.
- CFX = Mild ear pain but lots of mucoid discharge. No systemic illness. Kids may speak quietly and have behavioural problems from poor hearing.
- O/E = granulation tissue in canal, perforation.
- Ix = CT to rule our cholesteatoma bone erosion or abscess.
- Rx = ENT referral to use off licence ABx, ear hygiene (keep dry), maybe steroids too 💊
Mastoiditis
- Causes = cholesteatoma, acute otitis media.
- CFx = swelling and pain in mastoid area. Anterior-inferior displacement of pinna.
- Ix = complete cranial nerve exam, blood cultures, ear discharge mc+s, audiogram, skull XR, LP, CT scan (opacity in mastoid air cells).
- Rx = high dose IV ABx (ceftriaxone) and surgical drainage.
Presentation of otitis externa
Itching.
Ear pain, tenderness at tragus.
Feeling of fullness in ear.
Poor hearing (conductive).
O/E
Furuncles (painful swelling on external ear) if infected hair follicle.
Canal is erythematous, shiny and can be oedematous if severe.