Vertigo Dr Tharaka Chandrakumar GPST2 Dr Emma Humphreys GPST1 The Mill Medical Practice, Godalming
Case discussion
Case discussion 58 yr old lady
Case discussion 58 yr old lady Awoke feeling room was spinning
Case discussion 58 yr old lady Awoke feeling room was spinning Vomited twice
Case discussion 58 yr old lady Awoke feeling room was spinning Vomited twice Seemed anxious
Case discussion 58 yr old lady Awoke feeling room was spinning Vomited twice Seemed anxious Slightly unsteady on her feet
Case discussion 58 yr old lady Awoke feeling room was spinning Vomited twice Seemed anxious Slightly unsteady on her feet Hyperventilating
Case discussion 58 yr old lady Awoke feeling room was spinning Vomited twice Seemed anxious Slightly unsteady on her feet Hyperventilating No fever, but had sore throat
Case discussion 58 yr old lady Awoke feeling room was spinning Vomited twice Seemed anxious Slightly unsteady on her feet Hyperventilating No fever, but had sore throat Slight difficulty swallowing
Case discussion On examination Red throat Positionally induced nystagmus was sustained
Case discussion On examination Red throat
Case discussion On examination Red throat Positionally induced nystagmus was sustained
“I felt dizzy Doctor”
“I felt dizzy Doctor” Light-headedness Presyncope, eg transient hypotension Disequilibrium of elderly Anxiety or hyperventilation
“like I’d just got off a roundabout”
“like I’d just got off a roundabout” Vertigo illusory sense of movement or orientation disorder of labyrinth or brainstem
“like I’d just got off a roundabout” Vertigo illusory sense of movement or orientation disorder of labyrinth or brainstem But which?
Differential Diagnosis Peripheral Central
Differential Diagnosis Peripheral Benign Positional Paroxsymal Vertigo (BPPV) Acute Vestibular Neuritis Meniere’s Disease Central
Differential Diagnosis Peripheral Benign Positional Paroxsymal Vertigo (BPPV) Acute Vestibular Neuritis Meniere’s Disease Central Brainstem stroke / tumour / demyelination Vertiginous Migraine (dx of exclusion)
History Headache?
History Headache? Hearing?
History Headache? Hearing? Tinnitus?
History Headache? Hearing? Tinnitus? Positional vertigo?
History Headache? Hearing? Tinnitus? Positional vertigo? Vision?
History Headache? Hearing? Tinnitus? Positional vertigo? Vision? Swallowing?
Examination Cranial nerves
Examination Cranial nerves Eye movements (?nystagmus)
Examination Cranial nerves Eye movements (?nystagmus) Ears
Examination Cranial nerves Eye movements (?nystagmus) Ears Hearing
Examination Cranial nerves Eye movements (?nystagmus) Ears Hearing Gait (?unsteady)
Examination Cranial nerves Eye movements (?nystagmus) Ears Hearing Gait (?unsteady) Coordination
Examination Cranial nerves Eye movements (?nystagmus) Ears Hearing Gait (?unsteady) Coordination Head Thrust test or Hallpike Manouevre (positional provocation tests)
Red flags Neurological symptoms or signs New headache (esp occipital) Acute deafness Vertical nystagmus
Anatomy and pathophysiology Tharaka Chandrakumar
Objectives Labyrinthine cavity (inner ear) - osseous labyrinth - membranous labyrinth Membranous labyrinth - endolymph - vestibular - cochlear - semicircular canals Hair cells Pathology
Middle and inner ear
Vestibule Bony Vestibule - lateral wall - medial wall - roof - posterior - anterior Membranous vestibule - utricle (close to semicircular canals - saccule (close to cochlea)
Hair cells within membranous vestibule
Kinetic labyrinth; semicircular canals
Pathology Meniere’s disease Meniere’s syndrome BPPV Vestibular neuritis Labyrinthitis ; viral/bacterial
Acute Vestibular Neuritis
Acute Vestibular Neuritis Common ?preceding viral infection Sustained vertigo Unsteady gait Unidirectional horizontal nystagmus Positive ocular reflex (“head thrust”)
Halmagyi Head Thrust
Halmagyi Head Thrust http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=CZXDNLLGG8k
Acute Vestibular Neuritis Self-limiting Acute illness up to a week Several weeks to resolve completely Symptomatic relief Prochlorperazine (Stemetil) Vestibular rehab exercises BD
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) Common Female: male = 2:1 Brief episodes (<1 min) Specific positions Posterior canal common Intense vertigo +/- nausea Prolonged dizziness may last hours
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) Risk Factors: Advancing age Head trauma Migraine Inner ear disease General anaesthesia
BPPV – How to diagnose Hallpike Manouevre http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttgaqpIv_wM Typical rotatory nystagmus Careful explanation
BPPV – How to Treat Epley Manoeuvre http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsPURdtMjac
BPPV – How to Treat Semont Manoeuvre
Final Part of Case
More careful questioning elicited facial numbness and slight clumsiness of left hand On admission to hospital the patient; Sustained nystagmus on positioning
Take-Home Messages Vestibular problems common Ensure no red flags Vestibular sedatives short term use only Learn Hallpike and Epley or Semont
AKT QUESTIONS
QUESTION 1 A 45-year-old man presents with dizziness and right-sided hearing loss to his GP. Which one of the following tests would most likely indicate an acoustic neuroma? A.Jerky nystagmus B.Left homonymous hemianopia C.Tongue deviated to the left D.Fasciculation of the tongue E.Absent corneal reflex E
QUESTION 2 Which one of the following medications is most useful for helping to prevent attacks of Meniere's disease? A.Promethazine B.Prochlorperazine C.Betahistine D.Chlorphenamine E.Cinnarizine C
QUESTION 3 Which one of the following statements regarding Meniere's disease is correct? A.More common in patients from the Indian Subcontinent B.Symptoms resolve in the majority of patients after 6-12 months C.It is very rare that patients develop permanent hearing loss D.More common in children E.Approximately equal incidence in males and females E
References Barraclough & Bronstein Vertigo:diagnosis in general practice, BMJ 2009; 339:b3493 http://www.bmj.com/content/339/bmj.b3493 Bronstein BPPV - Diagnosis and Physical Treatment, ACNR Vol 5 No 3, July/Aug 2005 http://www.acnr.co.uk/pdfs/volume5issue3/v5i3revbbpv.pdf
references Anatomy and Physiology, 7th edition, Seeley, Stephens, Tate 2005 http://projects.cbe.ab.ca/Diefenbaker/Biology/Bio%20Website%20Final/notes/nervous_system/9_the_ear.html Clinical Medicine 5th edition, Kumar and Clark Vertigo: A Review of Common Peripheral and Central Vestibular Disorders Timothy L. Thompson, MD and Ronald Amedee, MD Ochsner J. 2009 Spring; 9(1): 20–26. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1948907-overview Vertigo, K.Barraclough, A Bronstein, Diagnosis in General practice, BMJ Sept 2009 Vol 339 Lateral medullary infarct, West Indian med. j. vol.61 no.7 Mona Oct. 2012
Manoeuvres Epley http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59EIKztATiw Semont http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pg_SjWG-L9c Brand-Daroff exercises http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWuEJxJ5s7c Have a practice!