368.4 ð ç« æ«éèš Summary
368.4.1 ð äžå¥è©±çžœçµ
Dizziness = nonspecific â clinically distinguish 4 types: vertigo (illusion of motion â vestibular peripheral or central) + presyncope (near-faint, cardiovascular) + disequilibrium (off-balance without rotation, often gait â cerebellar/sensory ataxia/parkinsonian/peripheral neuropathy) + lightheadedness/anxiety/hyperventilation/hypoglycemia; vertigo divided into peripheral (vestibular labyrinth or nerve) vs central (brainstem/cerebellum); peripheral causes â more common, less dangerous: BPPV (most common, brief < 1 min, positional, otoconia in semicircular canal, posterior most common) â Dix-Hallpike + Epley maneuver; vestibular neuritis (sudden sustained days, viral prodrome, no hearing loss) â steroids + early vestibular rehab; labyrinthitis (vestibular neuritis + hearing loss); Meniere disease (recurrent attacks 20 min-hours, tetrad: vertigo + tinnitus + sensorineural hearing loss + aural fullness; endolymphatic hydrops) â diet low salt + diuretics + betahistine + intratympanic steroid or gentamicin; vestibular migraine (recurrent vertigo + migraine features) â migraine prevention β-blocker/topiramate/TCA/CGRP mAbs; central causes (dangerous!) â brainstem/cerebellar stroke (PICA Wallenberg, AICA can mimic labyrinthitis with hearing loss!) + cerebellar hemorrhage + MS + posterior fossa tumor (vestibular schwannoma) + vertebrobasilar insufficiency; HINTS exam for acute vestibular syndrome â Head Impulse (peripheral abnormal/catch-up saccade vs central normal) + Nystagmus (peripheral unidirectional horizontal-torsional vs central direction-changing or vertical/pure torsional) + Test of Skew (peripheral absent vs central present vertical misalignment) â HINTS more sensitive than early MRI within 48 hr for posterior stroke; peripheral vs central nystagmus â peripheral reduced by visual fixation vs central not changed; workup â history (4 types), exam (HINTS + neuro + Romberg + orthostatic + cardiac), MRI brain DWI for suspected central, vestibular function tests (caloric, VNG, rotational, VEMP); treatment â Epley (BPPV), steroids (vestibular neuritis), diet + diuretics + betahistine (Meniere), migraine prevention (vestibular migraine), treat underlying for central; special â PPPD chronic > 3 months SSRIs + CBT + vestibular rehab; mal de débarquement persistent rocking after travel; cerebellar stroke can cause obstructive hydrocephalus â suboccipital craniectomy decompressionã
368.4.2 ð æ²»ç粟èŠ
- BPPVïŒEpley maneuver (canalith repositioning) 95%+ effective â Patient supine head turned 45° toward affected, lower head 20° below horizontal, then series of head turns; Brandt-Daroff exercises home; avoid vestibular suppressants (delay recovery); Semont/Gufoni/Yacovino for other canals
- vestibular neuritisïŒmethylprednisolone 100 mg PO taper à 3 weeks + vestibular suppressants short-term †72 hr (meclizine 25 mg q6-8h, dimenhydrinate, diazepam) + antiemetics + early vestibular rehabilitation therapy (key)
- Meniere diseaseïŒdiet low salt < 1500 mg/d + caffeine/alcohol/nicotine avoidance + hydrochlorothiazide-triamterene + betahistine 16-48 mg TID (Europe) + acute vestibular suppressants; refractory intratympanic steroid (methylprednisolone or dexamethasone) or intratympanic gentamicin (vestibulotoxic, ablates affected ear, preserves hearing); endolymphatic sac decompression + labyrinthectomy + vestibular nerve section
- vestibular migraineïŒas migraine prevention β-blocker (propranolol) + topiramate + TCA (amitriptyline) + venlafaxine + CGRP mAbs (emerging evidence); acute as migraine
- cerebellar strokeïŒsuboccipital craniectomy decompression for mass effect with brainstem compression or obstructive hydrocephalus
- PPPD (persistent postural-perceptual dizziness)ïŒSSRIs (sertraline, escitalopram) + CBT + vestibular rehabilitation
- vestibular paroxysmiaïŒcarbamazepine 200-1200 mg/d or oxcarbazepine (vascular loop compression CN VIII)
368.4.3 ð¯ ç§é«åž«çèåæé
- Four types of dizziness (memorize): vertigo (spinning) + presyncope (near-faint) + disequilibrium (off-balance) + lightheadedness (vague); each has different etiology category
- Peripheral vs central vertigo distinction: peripheral (unidirectional horizontal-torsional nystagmus + reduced by fixation + hearing symptoms common + no other neuro) vs central (direction-changing or vertical/pure torsional + NOT reduced by fixation + other neuro signs + dangerous!)
- HINTS exam for acute vestibular syndrome (key skill): Head Impulse (peripheral abnormal/catch-up saccade vs central normal) + Nystagmus + Test of Skew (peripheral absent vs central present vertical misalignment) â more sensitive than early MRI within 48 hr for posterior fossa stroke
- BPPV (most common vertigo): brief < 1 min + positional + Dix-Hallpike + Epley maneuver 95%+ effective; posterior canal most common
- Vestibular neuritis: sudden sustained days + viral prodrome + no hearing loss (vs labyrinthitis = with hearing loss) â methylprednisolone taper + vestibular suppressants short-term †72 hr + early vestibular rehab
- Meniere tetrad (memorize): vertigo (recurrent 20 min-hours) + tinnitus + sensorineural hearing loss (fluctuating, low-frequency) + aural fullness; endolymphatic hydrops â low salt diet + diuretic + betahistine + intratympanic steroid/gentamicin refractory
- Vestibular migraine: recurrent vertigo + migraine features (may not have headache during episode) â treat as migraine prevention β-blocker/topiramate/TCA/CGRP mAbs
- AICA stroke can mimic labyrinthitis (peripheral pattern with hearing loss) â use HINTS exam + MRI to distinguish; PICA (Wallenberg) lateral medullary â vertigo + ipsilateral face/contralateral body sensory + dysphagia + hoarse + ataxia + Horner
- Cerebellar stroke EMERGENCY: posterior fossa mass effect â brainstem compression + obstructive hydrocephalus â suboccipital craniectomy decompression; 5 Ds (dizziness, diplopia, dysarthria, dysphagia, dystaxia)
- Chronic dizziness syndromes: PPPD (persistent postural-perceptual dizziness, > 3 months, worse upright/visual/motion â SSRIs + CBT + vestibular rehab); mal de débarquement (persistent rocking after travel); superior canal dehiscence (sound/pressure-induced vertigo Tullio phenomenon + autophony + CT confirms)