ENT Emergencies

Stanford University Division of Emergency Medicine

Overview
Otologic Disorders Nasal Disorders Facial, Oral and Pharyngeal Infections Airway Obstruction

Otologic Disorders Anatomy

Auricle Ear canal Tympanic membrane Middle ear and mastoid disorders Inner Ear

Traumatic Disorders of the Auricle

Hematoma
- cartilaginous necrosis - drain, antibiotics, bulky ear dressing close follow up

Lacerations - single
layer closure, pick up perichondrium, bulky ear dressing Use posterior auricular block for anesthesia

Aspiration of Auricular Hematoma

Auricle
Chondritis - Cellulitis ?
- infectious, difficult to treat because poor blood supply, cover S. Aureus and pseudomonas - extra care in diabetics - inflammatory causes related to seronegative arthritis at times indistinguishable from infection usually the ear lobe is spared

Otitis Externa
Infection and inflammation caused by bacteria (pseudomonas, staph), and fungi - treat with antibiotic-steroid drops - use wick for tight canals - diabetics can get malignant otitis externa (defined by the presence of granulation tissue)

Foreign Bodies in Ear Canal

Usually put in by patient, some bugs fly in kill bugs with mineral oil, or lidocaine remove with forceps, suction or tissue adhesive

Tympanic Membrane Perforation

Hard to see Hx of drainage Usually from middle ear pressure secondary to fluid or barotrauma Sometimes from external trauma most heal uneventfully but all need otology follow-up perfs with vertigo and facial nerve involvement need immediate referral treat with antibiotics drops controversial but indicated for purulent discharge (avoid gentamycin drops)

Middle Ear
Serous Otitis Media - Eustachian tube dysfunction - treat with decongestants, decompressive maneuvers Otitis Media - infection of middle ear effusion - viral and bacteria Mastoiditis - Venous connection with brain, need aggressive treatment (can lead to brain abcess or meningitis)

Inner Ear
peripheral vertigo (vestibulopathy) BPV, labyrhinthitis - acute onset, no central signs, usually young, horizontal nystagmus Menieres - vertigo, sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus Treatment - valium, fluids, rest, manipulation for BPV

The Nose
Vascular Supply - Anterior - branches of internal carotid - Posterior - distal branches of external carotid

Epistaxis
Anterior
90% (Littles Area) Kisselbachs plexus usually children, young adults

Etiologies
Trauma, epistaxis digitorum Winter Syndrome, Allergies Irritants - cocaine, sprays Pregnancy

Epistaxis
Posterior
10% of all epistaxis - usually in the elderly Etiologies Coagulopathy Atherosclerosis Neoplasm Hypertension (debatable)

Epistaxis Management
Pain meds, lower BP, calm patient Prepare ! (gown, mask, suction, speculum, meds and packing ready) Evacuate clots Topical vasoconstrictor and anesthetic Identify source

Epistaxis Management
Anterior Sites
- Pressure +/- cautery and/or tamponade - all packs require antibiotic prophylaxis

Epistaxis Posterior Packing

Need analgesia and sedation require admission and 02 saturation monitoring

Epistaxis Complications
severe bleeding hypoxia, hypercarbia sinusitis, otitis media necrosis of the columella or nasal ala

7th Nerve Palsy

Most cases are idiopathic - link to HSV - no proof steroids or antivirals are effective, but many advocate Consider Lymes Disease in edemic areas Surgical decompression indicated in the rare patient not improving by 2 weeks and ENOG out > 90%

Facial Infections Sinusitis

Signs and symptoms
- H/A, facial pain in sinus distribution - purulent yellow-green rhinorrhea - fever - CT more sensitive than plain films

Causative Organisms
- gram positives and H. flu (acute) - anaerobes, gram neg (chronic)

 Treatment

Facial Infections Sinusitis

acute - amoxil, septra chronic - amoxil-clavulinic acid, clindamycin, quinolones decongestants, analgesia, heat

Complications
ethmoid sinusitis - orbital cellulits and abcess frontal sinusitis - may erode bone (Potts Puffy Tumor, Brain Abcess)

Facial Cellulitis
Most common strept and staph, Rarely H.Flu Can progress rapidly

Parotiditis
Usually viral -paramyxovirus Bacterial - elderly, immunosuppressed - associated with dehydration - cover - Staph, anaerobes

Pharyngitis
Irritants -reflux, trauma, gases Viruses - EBV, adenovirus Bacterial -GABHS, mycoplasma, gonorrhea, diptheria

Peritonsillar Abcess
Complication of suppurative tonsillitis Inferior - medial displacement of tonsil and uvula dysphagia, ear pain, muffled voice, fever, trismus Treatment - Antibiotics, I&D, +/-steroids

Epiglottitis
Clinical Picture
Older children and adults decrease incidence in children secondary to HIB vaccine Onset rapid, patients look toxic prefer to sit, muffled voice, dysphagia, drooling, restlessness

Epiglottitis
Avoid agitation Direct visualization if patient allows soft tissue of neck - thumb print, valecula sign Prepare for emergent airway, best achieved in a controlled setting Unasyn, +/- steroids

Epiglottitis

Retropharyngeal Abcess
Anterior to prevertebral space and posterior to pharynx Usually in children under 4 (lymphoid tissue in space) pain, dysphagia, dyspnea, fever swelling of retropharyngeal space on lateral x-ray Complications - mediastinitis

 Infection of the lower molars invade masticator space Swelling, pain fever, TRISMUS Treatment IV antibiotics (PCN or Clindamycin) ENT admission

Masticator - Parapharyngeal Space Infection

ANUG
Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis
Bacterial infection causing an acute necrotizing, destructive disease of periodontium Treatment - oral rinses - antibiotics (PCN, clindamycin, tetracycline)

Ludwigs Angina
Rapidly progressive cellulitis of the floor of the mouth usually in elderly debilitated patients and precipitated by dental procedures massive swelling with impending airway obstruction Treatment ICU, antibiotics, airway management

Angioedema
Ocassionally life threatening Heriditary and related to ACE inhibitors Antihistamines, steroids and doxepin

Airway Obstruction
Aphonia - complete upper airway Stridor - incomplete upper airway Wheezing - incomplete lower airway Loss of breath sounds- complete lower airway

Questions and Answers